Koen de Graaf (Groningen, 1991)
My work is research in practice. Every image fuels the next one, experimenting leads to choice.
A broad pallette of child-like imagery plays a key role in the works, they are copied, being cut up, rearranged, deformed and played with in a formal way. By doing so and at the same time translating
them to different types of media their context changes, they enter a somewhat rough and gritty
environment. The contrast of this rather destructive setting and the sweet, innocent character the
images have from themselves is what I search for.
The works on paper and the wall painting link to eachother as a kind of extension, together they create a zoom-in zoom-out effect. The big, energetic sense of wall painting and the concentrated, organic feel of printmaking combined form a range of dealing with this imagery and makes a call to the viewers memory and recognition.
Contact:
Koendegraaf1 [at] gmail.com
Curriculum Vitae:
2012 - 2016: Academie Minerva, Fine Arts - Groningen
2008 - 2012: Noorderpoort, Art & Design - Groningen
Nominations:
Buning Brongers Prijzen, 2016
Klaas Dijkstra Academieprijs, 2016
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy 2015
Abel Tasman Art Prize, 2010
Shows/projects:
2018
GRID, Groningen. Group show part of Expoost, art tour in Groningen.
Oude RKZ, Groningen. Solo show.
Ateliercollectie, CBK Groningen. Group show.
2017
Unfinished Business, Grand Theatre, Groningen. Wall painting.
Drawing between the lines, Galerie Bart, Amsterdam. Group show.
2016
Paintings & More, SIGN, Groningen. Group Show.
Groninger Grafiek, Pictura & Atelier Horneman, Groningen. Group Show.
FINALS, exam exhibition Academie Minerva. De oude Suikerfabriek, Groningen.
A Lions Nest, Groningen. Group exhibition, 3 large prints.
Visio, de Brink, Vries. Commisioned wall painting.
Moot Point, de Gym, Groningen. Group Show.
Golden Herring, Academie Minerva, Groningen. One-day solo show curated by Eirik Rønneberg.
2015
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Amsterdam. Contest, group show.
Noorderzon festival, Groningen. Group project led by Michel Velt and Tom Dijkstra.
The Holy Mountain, Groningen. Group show.
East Side West Side II, Galerie Pit, Groningen. Group Show.
De Tien Jonge Kunstenaars, Galerie Bart Art Box, Thesinge. Group show.
Kunstruil, Stiching WEP, Groningen. Organised with Joost Wierenga and Eduard Bezembinder.
2014
Catch 22, Royal Gallery, KABK Den Haag. Group Show.
East Side West Side, Sofia, Bulgaria. Group show.
Noorderzon Festival, Groningen. Group Project led by Michel Velt.
Noise in the North, EMG Faktors, Groningen. Group show.
Mixed Grill, Groningen. Group Show.
Flutgraben, Berlin. Group Project.
2013
Solo exhibiton, Galerie Simplon, Groningen
Paradigm Festival, Groningen - Stage design
2010
Solo Exhibition, Rebours Festival, Groningen
Abel Tasman Art Prize, Grootegast.
My work is research in practice. Every image fuels the next one, experimenting leads to choice.
A broad pallette of child-like imagery plays a key role in the works, they are copied, being cut up, rearranged, deformed and played with in a formal way. By doing so and at the same time translating
them to different types of media their context changes, they enter a somewhat rough and gritty
environment. The contrast of this rather destructive setting and the sweet, innocent character the
images have from themselves is what I search for.
The works on paper and the wall painting link to eachother as a kind of extension, together they create a zoom-in zoom-out effect. The big, energetic sense of wall painting and the concentrated, organic feel of printmaking combined form a range of dealing with this imagery and makes a call to the viewers memory and recognition.
Contact:
Koendegraaf1 [at] gmail.com
Curriculum Vitae:
2012 - 2016: Academie Minerva, Fine Arts - Groningen
2008 - 2012: Noorderpoort, Art & Design - Groningen
Nominations:
Buning Brongers Prijzen, 2016
Klaas Dijkstra Academieprijs, 2016
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy 2015
Abel Tasman Art Prize, 2010
Shows/projects:
2018
GRID, Groningen. Group show part of Expoost, art tour in Groningen.
Oude RKZ, Groningen. Solo show.
Ateliercollectie, CBK Groningen. Group show.
2017
Unfinished Business, Grand Theatre, Groningen. Wall painting.
Drawing between the lines, Galerie Bart, Amsterdam. Group show.
2016
Paintings & More, SIGN, Groningen. Group Show.
Groninger Grafiek, Pictura & Atelier Horneman, Groningen. Group Show.
FINALS, exam exhibition Academie Minerva. De oude Suikerfabriek, Groningen.
A Lions Nest, Groningen. Group exhibition, 3 large prints.
Visio, de Brink, Vries. Commisioned wall painting.
Moot Point, de Gym, Groningen. Group Show.
Golden Herring, Academie Minerva, Groningen. One-day solo show curated by Eirik Rønneberg.
2015
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Amsterdam. Contest, group show.
Noorderzon festival, Groningen. Group project led by Michel Velt and Tom Dijkstra.
The Holy Mountain, Groningen. Group show.
East Side West Side II, Galerie Pit, Groningen. Group Show.
De Tien Jonge Kunstenaars, Galerie Bart Art Box, Thesinge. Group show.
Kunstruil, Stiching WEP, Groningen. Organised with Joost Wierenga and Eduard Bezembinder.
2014
Catch 22, Royal Gallery, KABK Den Haag. Group Show.
East Side West Side, Sofia, Bulgaria. Group show.
Noorderzon Festival, Groningen. Group Project led by Michel Velt.
Noise in the North, EMG Faktors, Groningen. Group show.
Mixed Grill, Groningen. Group Show.
Flutgraben, Berlin. Group Project.
2013
Solo exhibiton, Galerie Simplon, Groningen
Paradigm Festival, Groningen - Stage design
2010
Solo Exhibition, Rebours Festival, Groningen
Abel Tasman Art Prize, Grootegast.
