Added Jul 8, 2005
Andre van der Kerkhoff has been watched closely during the last few years with the result that over the last twelve months Michell Sourgnes, Goya Galleries and Scott Livesey have invited Andre to join their stable.
His Works are included in the private collections of Marlene Antico, Philip Bacon, Marilyn Domenech and various corporate collections within Australia and Europe.
Andre, born in Graz, Austria and a resident of Australia since 1986 took a rather long sabbatical from painting during which time he turned to a more organic medium and created bonsais. After an interval of 10 years, he resumed painting and has since then exhibited regularly and successfully in Australia.
The current exhibition to be seen at Trevenen House Gallery will be selected by Michel Sourgnes and dedicated to Paul Holman, Owner and Director of the Gallery as a mark of affection between artist and gallery and gesture to Paul as he faces the daunting challenge of terminal cancer.
' From above and below ' examines Andre's preoccupation and fascination with the possibilities of a symbiotic and dynamic relationship between two juxtaposed antipodean languages of imagery.
" I would find it rather strange, if I, as a painter, wouldn't be interested in my adopted country's landscape. Coming from the center of Europe with a set of imagery that spans from the mosaics of Pompeii all the way to Klimt and Mondrian, I am torn now in my new place between the old and the almost avant-garde visual interpretation of a very old people's understanding of their LAND. "
"This exhibition shows a small stage of my journey towards my own landscape " is how Andre summarises the body of work which exhibits lusciousness, fluidity and urgency in a framework of precision and discombobulating perspective.