A year ago, I reached out to Rik van Hazendonk about the possibility of acquiring one of his works for our collection. That first conversation led to a pleasant visit to his studio, where we eventually decided to add several of his works to the collection. Since then, we have stayed in regular contact.
Two months ago, Rik asked whether he could borrow two of these quintessential works for his exhibition at Pulchri Studio. Seeing them reunited with other pieces from his recent practice added an extra layer of meaning to the exhibition.
What immediately struck me upon entering the gallery was the imposing stack of canvases placed almost at the centre of the room. It dominates the space and instantly captures the viewer’s attention. Around it, Van Hazendonk’s paintings are everything I have come to admire: intentional yet remarkably free in both form and execution. They are works in which the material itself becomes the subject.
As Rik describes his practice, painting is, in its essence, simply paint on canvas or paper. His interventions remain fundamental—a line, a stain, a monochrome field. Over recent years, the canvas itself has become increasingly present, with loose pieces of linen, folds, frayed edges, and traces of use becoming integral to the image. Rather than existing on top of the support, the work emerges from the material itself.
The exhibition remains on view until 7 July 2026 and is well worth a visit while it lasts.
Interested? please contact Rik van Hazendonk at rikvanhazendonk@planet.nl about the availability of his works
