Faculteit 7: a love affair
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I created the painting Faculteit 7 way back in 1978. It was a work of pure imagination and
dedication. I decided on a large canvas (130 x 260cm/52" x 104"), so that the brushstrokes,
of which there would be so many, would have space to move in stillness. For the colours,
I used white, then from a range of cadmium yellows, orange and red through to purpre red,
and lastly, cobalt blue. I started to combine the seven colours systematically, and exploited
all the possible variations. In that way the pattern that is typical of Faculteit 7 developed.
I was always interested, as I still am, in working with patterns. It seems to me the way in
which the world presents and expresses itself. It is of all times and all cultures.
Over the years people have always loved, have been intrigued even, by Faculteit 7. In the
early 90's I had a silkscreen print made of it.
In 2005, I wanted to take another look at Faculteit 7. I learned that by using new
technology I could for instance diminish, or enlarge the number of colours in the
painting, which had a great effect on the way the pattern showed itself. The pattern
characteristic of Fac 7 is still there but sometimes in a kind of rudimentary way, while
at other times patterns that lie hidden in the original work come to the surface. One
can approach the painting in many different ways, to develop completely new works.
I make the new Fac-paintings in oilpaint, in different sizes.
Also I intend some of these designs to be produced as tapestry or fabric, or
maybe as prints on metal or glass.
