Alrik Stelling - Art portfolio

About the series Elsewhere

My paintings are often large, and their colours dull, greyish. They show the view or a corridor of my everyday surroundings, and are painted on location from observation. The subjective perspective intensifies spaciousness. Thus, the viewer becomes the human in the painting. What are you doing here?

Read more about subjective perspective...

Linear perspective is based on a single eye with a fixed viewing angle. It is a system with three vanishing points with straight lines running towards them. It is relatively easy to learn and (therefore) often used.
Curvilinear perspective recognizes that horizontal and vertical lines have a curve, as a result of a changing viewing angle. For example, the line between the ceiling and the wall in front of you bends towards the horizon, both at the left and at he right. Curvilinear perspective is a far more complex system which results in a better spatial experience. Using a computer to do all the calculations is handy.
Subjective perspective - my own terminology - is more like curvilinear perspective than linear perspective. The systematic part is released in the sense that there are no fixed calculation rules. Basis is the subjective experience of space. Space is experienced by looking around with both your eyes. Therefor lineair perspective - with a fixed angle of view - is no good. Not curvilinear perspective calculation, but subjective experience determines the curves.

Imagine a window post between two windows in a straight wall in front of you. Looking through the left window, the window post will bend to the left at bottom and top, looking through the right window it will bend to the right at bottom and top. Thus conflicting situations occur in which a line simultaneously has to bend towards both left and right, or both upwards and downwards. Of course, this cannot be drawn as such. Arbitrarily choices have to be made, with subjective experience leading in the process of determining what angle of view is (locally) dominant.

Besides, one should compensate for viewing the canvas itself from different angles, and perspective shortening on canvas. The larger the canvas, the more difficult, but also the larger the opportunity to generate a spatial feeling.

Really experiencing space by looking at a painting is impossible, but I keep trying to create spaciousness as good as possible. To illustrate this one of my paintings is shown below. It measures 2.00m x 1.20 m. Viewing this painting on a small computer screen, the spatial experience will be limited, and the picture itself will look quite distorted. If one stands in front of it at close distance and 'feels' the space - e.g. becomes slightly dizzy and wants to reach for the banister at the right - then the subjective perspective has succeeded. At that moment the viewer has become the human in the painting.

About the series Human

No people are seen in the Elsewhere series, on purpose. The Human series - as a counteractive investigation - explicitely depicts people, partly hidden. This series is developed associatively. Paintings are square sized and vary from 25×25 cm to 70×70cm. Images found in media, or images derived from own photos, perception and memory serve as input. I create a cut out of such image and manipulate it further while painting. The title finishes the work. My paintings are often about serious topics. Final interpretation of a work is left to the viewer.

Read article "Ernstige toelichting geconstateerd" (Pulchri Magazine, june 2018) about solo exhibition Human...

Awards & Nominations

Nominated for the Jacob HartogPrijs 2024 with painting "Breathtaking". See also Announcement on website Pulchri Studio (in Dutch).
Winner Menzis Jong Talent 2011

Other remarks

Publication in paper Straatnieuws #11, Den Haag-Rotterdam, 29 august 2018, page "art work of the month"
Member of the jury Jacob HartogPrijs 2015
Member of Pulchri Studio, The Hague (per 1 april 2014).
Two Elsewhere paintings have been created at Pulchri Studio during public live painting sessions. A short movie has been made of my Artist at Work project. In 2014 and 2015 public painting/drawing demos during Museum Night, at Pulchri Studio.
In July 2011 I graduated as a Fine Arts student at the Royal Academy of Art.
Final exam work has been noticed by: Metropolis M and Lost Painters and Trendbeheer
Work has been acquired by private individuals, health insurance company Menzis, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (placed in the Dutch embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus).
This website has been developed by myself. All rights reserved.
Now and then I create a realtime interactive computer animation.

Exhibitions

Pulchri studio, 2024 - Goed gevonden - Deel II

Pulchri studio, 2021 - The Roaring Twenties

Pulchri studio, 2018 - solo-exhibition Human.
Opening: Aren't we all just tragic clowns?

Pulchri studio, 2018 - solo-exhibition Human

Pulchri studio, 2014

2026

Solo. Human 2026. De Firma, Gouda. 27 oct-15 nov 2026.
Group. Najaarssalon 2026. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 26 sep-18 oct 2026.
Group. Klein Formaat - 14. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 20 aug-18 nov 2026.
Solo. Human 2026. Parkvilla, Alphen aan den Rijn. 20 aug-8 oct 2026.
Group. Carrying the Songs. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 4 jul-26 jul 2026.
Group. Klein Formaat - 13. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 20 may-18 aug 2026.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2026. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 7 mar-5 apr 2026.

2025

Group. Najaarssalon 2025. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 13 sep-15 oct 2025.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2025. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 14 may-15 jun 2025.

2024

Group. Najaarssalon 2024. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 28 sep-20 oct 2024.
Duo. Goed Gevonden - Deel II. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 7 sep-8 oct 2024. Together with Saskia Vergunst.
- Exhibition (TikTok movie by Pulchri)
- Opening (TikTok movie by Pulchri)
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2024. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 27 mar-28 apr 2024.

2023

Group. Klein Formaat - 4. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 21 nov 2023-18 feb 2024
Group. Alphen Art Event, Alphen aan den Rijn. 9 jun-11 jun 2023.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2023. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 1 apr-30 apr 2023.

2022

Group. Voorjaarssalon 2022. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 2 apr-24 apr 2022.

2021

Group. Najaarssalon 2021. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 2 oct-24 oct 2021.
Group. The Roaring Twenties. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 4 sep-26 sep 2021.

2020

Group. Voorjaarssalon 2020. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 7 mar-29 mar 2020.
Group. Bomen. Sta-Art galerie, Alphen aan den Rijn. 14 feb-19 mar 2020.
Co-organizer exhibition, as secretary of Bomenpanel Alphen aan den Rijn and as member of Pulchri.

2019

Group. Najaarssalon 2019. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 21 sep-12 oct 2019.
Duo. Goed gevonden. Firma van Drie, Gouda. 3 juli-14 jul 2019. Together with Saskia Vergunst
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2019. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 3 apr-28 apr 2019.
Group. Sommerurlaub, Grüße aus.... Bergischen Kunstgenossenschaft e.V., Wuppertal, Germany. 20 jan-17 feb 2019.

2018

Group. Najaarssalon 2018. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 22 sep-14 oct 2018.
Solo. Human Pulchri Studio, Den Haag. 16 jun-10 jul 2018.
Group. Sta-Art galerie, Alphen aan den Rijn. 18 may-22 jun 2018.

2017

Group. Stadsgezichten. Galerie ZoFier, Workum. 17 nov-31 dec 2017.
Group. Kunstroute AlphenArt. Alphen aan den Rijn. 3 nov-5 nov 2017.
Group. Najaarssalon 2017. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 9 sep-1 oct 2017.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2017. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 22 apr-14 may 2017.

2016

Group. Najaarssalon 2016. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 1 oct-23 oct 2016.
Group. Pulchri in Bronovo. Bronovo hospital, The Hague. 22 juni-oct 2016. My works have been removed early after complaints.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2016. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 9 apr-1 may 2016.

2015

Group. Winterschilder. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 19 dec 2015-10 jan 2016.
Group. Najaarssalon 2015. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 26 sep-18 oct 2015.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2015. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 2 may-25 may 2015.

2014

Group. Pulchri Abstract '15. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 7 mar-29 mar 2015.
Group. 10 jaar Wit. Galerie Wit, Wageningen. 10 oct-16 nov 2014.
Group. Najaarssalon. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 6 sep-28 sep 2014.
Group. Verse aanwas. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 9 aug-31 aug 2014.
Group. Voorjaarssalon 2014. Pulchri Studio, The Hague. 19 apr-11 may 2014.

2013

Group. Nieuw Talent 2013. Realisme Amsterdam (art fair). Gallery ArtOlive. 17-20 jan 2013.

2012

Solo. ZonMw, The Hague. 9 oct 2012-jan 2013.
Trio. Aanstormend talent. Firma van Drie, Gouda. 23 may-17 jun 2012. Together with Jitske Bakker and Kika Wijnhoud
Trio. Afgestudeerd in 2011 – onze keuze. Galerie Wit, Wageningen. 25 mar-15 apr 2012. Together with Femke Dekkers and Anne Forest
Solo. SER, Den Haag. 30 jan-9 mar 2012.

2011

Solo. Spinoza building, Radboud University of Nijmegen. 30 nov 2011-27 jan 2012
Group. Menzis Jong Talent 2011. Azivo head office, The Hague. 1 oct-31 oct 2011.
Group. Lichting ' 11. Vonkel - galerie voor eigentijdse kunst, The Hague. 25 aug-15 oct 2011
Group. Final exam exposition. Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. 2 jul-9 jul 2011

2010

Group. Friday Night Event. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. 28 may 2010. Demo of my interactive computer animation as part of a project of AR+RFID Lab (built in Unity, including eye-tracking).

2009

Group. Work in Series. Selected to participate in workshop by Marcel van Eeden followed by a group exhibition. Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. May 2009

SER, 2012

Alrik Stelling Art Portfolio