Like a modern day Paul Gauguin,Ton Leenarts has traveled the world seeking inspiration for his work, to be impressed by colours, exotic cultures and people. It was a 'Poppy world out there, he discovered and painted.
His current work once again features full-length portraits, bringing back to life a technique he created when he was interested in Egyptian (Pharonic) art, in which he used full length portraits as a juxtaposition to the old elements he borrowed from the Pharaohs, or at least their artists. What he learned then and still fascinates him, is that while their colours are so splendid and enduring, the Egyptians didn't use, or didn't know perspective. It is a device he still uses today. Flattened space.
Later, Ton turned his attention to India where he fell under the spell of Moghul miniature paintings and created a synthesis of his own style and the typical Moghul miniature features, like jeweled colours and the way all natural detail is filtered by artifice.
And now, after all the traveling, absorbing cultures and influences he has come to the point where Paul actually meets Andy - Gauguin and Warhol, that is - where the dreamy paradisical images meet the hard edge pop images. Where all the ethnic imagery and devices coagulate into an exotic, non-existing world of his own. He uses this to build an atmospherecharged complementary background for his favourite Susieportraits - The Garden of Eden', 'The Enigma of Desire or Yamuna River'. … Read More