m.simons is delighted to present Gezelschap, a solo exhibition by Hans Hoekstra, on view at Lijnbaansgracht 318, opening in conjunction with Amsterdam's Gallery Weekend.
The new series of paintings is centered on a singular subject: the houseplant. Renowned for his contemplative depictions of human figures in repose, Hoekstra shifted his focus to still life during the pandemic, exploring the silent presence of plants as a substitute for human interaction. The title Gezelschap—Dutch for ‘company’—captures the intimacy of these new companions, which Hoekstra dramatizes through bold, sweeping compositions that dominate the canvas. His work in this series is characterized by stark contrasts, with light and color pushed to their extremes, creating a vivid tension between brightness and shadow.
Painted in situ, these works reflect a rigorous commitment to observation. Hoekstra set up his easel behind the plants, capturing them in real-time, a method distinct from working with photographs or imagined scenes. He notes, “This approach helped me to immerse myself in the plant’s form, its colors, and its environment. By attending to the plants in this way, the paintings almost became a dialogue between me and the plants. In the meanwhile, their patience and balance inspired me more and more.” This immersive practice, focused on careful observation, naturally shifts the emphasis away from self-expression. The result is a series of paintings where the artist's ego recedes, allowing the subtle details and inherent qualities of the plants to come forward with greater clarity and presence. Each work captures the quiet intensity of this exchange, prioritizing a depiction that is faithful to the experience over the imposition of a subjective vision.
In many of these works, Hoekstra applied a ground layer of vibrant, unrelated colors introducing an element of spontaneity. “This foundation forces me to make decisions in the moment—whether to preserve the bright background or to paint over it— which gave the painting process an improvisational character.” Hoekstra explains.
Rudi Fuchs, writing in 2021 about a previous painting by Hoekstra, described the artist's compositions as a “construction of observations,” where each element is meticulously balanced, yet subtly divergent in perspective and scale. The recent works by Hoekstra seem more zoomed in and more centered around a single motif. There is less the scaffolding of divergent plains and instead a more colorful abundance. Reflecting on his recent work, Hoekstra observes that, “In earlier series, I would combine different preparatory drawings in a painting which made the result more constructed. But with these new works, I’ve focused purely on the interplay of line, color, and the organic curves of the one plant in front of me and used that as a starting point to play with paint.”
Hans Hoekstra lives and works in Groningen. His work has been widely exhibited, with recent solo and group exhibitions including Verhaald Verbeeld, Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen, 2024, KABINETT, m.simons, Amsterdam, 2023, Recente Schilderijen, m.simons, Amsterdam, 2022. His paintings are held in several prominent collections, including Museum Belvédère, Drents Museum, Assen and DELA collection, Eindhoven. Hoekstra was recently awarded the Zoltin Peter Prize.
