Rob Blok

My work is an exploration of the world around me and my own place within it. I do this by breaking down the image and its complexity, and during this process, a new image emerges, layer by layer, stripped of what is unnecessary. This analog process, when it succeeds, simultaneously brings insight, new questions, and challenges. Chance, stillness, and movement are more determining in this process than design or planning. A lifelike representation is not what I strive for; rather, it is capturing the stillness and dynamics that occur simultaneously. The research process itself not only provides insight into the world but also into myself, and the result offers new perspectives on the familiar. During the pandemic, I focused on my immediate surroundings. Using simple materials such as charcoal on paper, I tried to capture the complexity of nature, inspired by walks in the forests, along the sea, and in the mountains. Additionally, I worked on a series of watercolors, where I gave space to the paper, water, and paint. While nothing happens without physical movement in the charcoal drawings, with watercolors, it is important to be restrained and allow the elements to unfold on their own. Both techniques have in common that there is no room for improvement – it’s either moving forward, accepting, or starting anew. My work began with paintings inspired by found family photos, where I explored my personal and family history. It was not about capturing the past but about the subjective nature of memory and the meaning of images. Later, my focus expanded to spatial installations for museums and public spaces, where I explored the interaction between space, audience, and context. The work is visually stimulating and challenges reflection. In response to the exhibition: A tree to charcoal Burned back into the forest In a drawing Harald van Noordt