When creating his paintings, Gubbels assigns an almost character-like personality to the coffee pot – which he usually refers to as a kettle. It can be seen sitting on a chair at a table or meeting other brightly colored kettles within the two-dimensional space of the canvas. The physical characteristics of the coffee pot vary: a double handle, heart-shaped, multiple spouts, and even legs. Gubbels states that he wants to break the monotony. Hence, the subject matter remains the same, yet the resulting work is always different. Gubbels explains it as follows when talking about his series of “Super boring still lifes”: “I purposely want to turn the dullness around. So that the boredom becomes something.”
Gubbels carefully considers what to erase and what to leave in. He ponders whether or not to remove the charcoal lines that sometimes run alongside the outlines of the painted shapes. He is not interested in making a painting more aesthetically pleasing. “Stupid, strict rules” – in Gubbels’ own words – hold him back from doing so. A painting should remain as it is; aesthetics should not be a guiding principle.
The limited number of subjects that Gubbels uses as a starting point consist mainly of a table, coffee pot, chair, cup, and occasionally a bottle or funnel. They are sometimes painted in bright blue or flaming red, and other times in more subdued shades of gray.
Aside from paintings, Gubbels also creates prints and sculptures. He studied at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam (1951-1952) and continued his education at the art academy in Arnhem (1952-1958). Exhibitions of his work have been shown at Museum Arnhem, Paleis Soestdijk (Baarn), and Livingstone Gallery (The Hague), among others.
www.ftn-books.com has several Gubbels items available.
