The Kunsthal Rotterdam proudly presents the exhibition Closer to You, illustrating the fascination that Dutch painter Jasper Krabbé has for his wife and muse Floor. The exhibition, which includes over 200 portraits, illustrates Krabbé's desire to get closer to her. He spent a year and a half creating images portraying ever different aspects of this one woman. The selected works illustrate a wide diversity of options for creating contemporary portraits as well as a variety of techniques on paper. Krabbé particular likes to work on ‘used' backgrounds such as pieces of cardboard, envelopes and packaging materials. All his works are presented in frames that he has found and many of which are antique. The portraits, presented as an installation across two floors of the Kunsthal's Design Gallery, are an ode to love.
Transience
The series of portraits range from watercolours to detailed studies in ink, and from detailed portraits to simple line drawings. The works contain countless references to portrait art but also to street art and film posters. Furthermore, the frailty and transience of life form a recurrent theme in Krabbé's work. In close proximity to his muse, he has recorded moments in time that would otherwise have been lost. In the portraits, we see Floor taking a nap in the car, staring into space or standing in a shop. On viewing these works, one feels almost a part of these daily, sometimes profound moments.
Jasper Krabbé
Jasper Krabbé (1970) lives and works in Amsterdam. He graduated with honours from the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and from the Cooper Union in New York. Krabbé began his artistic career as a graffiti artist and was a member of the Amsterdamse Collectief USA (United Street Artists). His work often reflects memories of places, events and individuals. Krabbé has had various exhibitions in countries including Sweden, Brazil, Italy and the United States of America. His work is included in collections belonging to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and others.
Publication
A publication of the same name and including approximately 180 selected works has been published by WBOOKS. This publication includes texts written by gallery owner and art historian Pietje Tegenbosch, and curator Jonathan Turner. (ISBN 978 90 891 0280 5, English language, EUR 69.50). An exclusive edition has also been published and includes a screen print created especially for the exhibition. This edition is numbered and signed, has an embossed linen binding and features a different cover image. This luxury edition is packaged in a coarse fabric jacket. (ISBN 978 90 400 0718 7, special edition EUR 495).
