“GEOMETRY WILL DRAW THE SOUL TOWARD TRUTH AND CREATE THE SPIRIT OF PHILOSOPHY” — Plato

Paul Ouwerkerk grew up in Europe and West Africa. He has been involved in visual culture since his two-year-residence at Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht in the late 1980ies. His career involves painting, sculpture, photography, time-based media and graphic design. His involvement with visual representation of architectural projects and firms has attracted international critical acclaim.

The depiction of geometry, machinery, modular shifting and grid systematics is what fascinates the artist. Resulting in the creation of what he refers to as ‘Progressive Patterns’, in which every repetitive step emulates a deformation of the visual element(s) and no exact similar shape can be found in this ‘pattern’.

The works seem to be challenging the time-space continuum. Bending the perception of the fabric of reality itself. The ‘Time-Machine’ theme can be seen as central to this abstract visual odyssee.

Expression is found and investigation is pursued through unlimited technical means, ranging from digital printwork to acrylic paint on canvas, from mural to wallpaper or ceramic tiles.
 

EDUCATION

1982-1986 Willem de Kooning Academie
1986-1988 Jan van Eyck Academy Post Graduate Master of Fine Arts

 ART EXHIBITIONS SOLO/GROUP

1988
Witte Dame Eindhoven, Group (Het Denken Dat Ziet) 1990 CBK Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam, Solo

1995
CBK 50 kunstenaars in HAL, Group (Stroomopwaarts)

2017
Borneo Architectuur Centrum Amsterdam, Solo

2018
AFF Space Gallery Bern (CH), Solo

2018
SBK Galerie Amsterdam, Group

2018
Art Alger (Selected/Cancelled), Group

2019
DDW Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, Group

1995-2015 Design Studio

(DESIGN) PRODUCTS (CLIENTS)

Books
OMA/Rem Koolhaas, MVRDV, Felix Claus en Kees Kaan (a.o.)

Signage
Educatorium Universiteit Utrecht (OMA)
BK EXPO Bouwkunde TU Delft Exhibition Witte Dame Eindhoven (MVRDV)

Design
Musée de Science Paris (MVRDV)
Arc en Rève Bordeaux (OMA)
NAi Rotterdam (OMA)
Biennale Hong Kong/Schenzen (Felix Claus)

Identity
AMS. Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions
Corporate Identity revision for TU Delft Technical University
Corporate Identity revision for ArgumentenFabriek

LECTURES

1999 Virginia Tech (USA)

2000 University of Houston (USA)

2019 American University Beirut (Libanon)

*FINANCIAL TIMES / 10.05.2008 / by Edwin Heathcote: “Amsterdam-based architecture practice S333 has the best logo of any I’ve ever seen in the industry. Created by Dutch graphic designer Paul Ouwerkerk, it’s a kinetic series of fractured figure eights revolving in hypnotic patterns.”