Ten Dutch artists are exhibiting their work in the catacombs of the Louvre this December. It is the first time they have been allowed to take part in an exhibition organised by the prestigious French National Society of Fine Art in Paris.

Ton Pret stands before his painting with wild lines and figures in bright red, blue, yellow and green. “Yes the colours do hit you, don’t they? It is all about positivism and that suits me.”

He laughs, looks at the canvas one more time and points out: “The painting is called ‘The Art of Human Beauty’: you can see a plastic surgeon operating. I gave the patient thicker lips and bigger breasts. I’m sometimes compared to Keith Haring. I don’t care really, as long as they don’t think it’s rubbish.”

Mr Pret is one of ten Dutch artists whose paintings are being exhibitied in the Carrousel du Louvre, in the basement of the world famous Parisian museum. Every year, the French National Society of Fine Art (SNBA) invites artists from all corners of the world to exhibit their work there.

Delegations
Roelofje van Opzeeland is one of the few Dutch artists to have shown her work at the exhibition before. She saw whole delegations from different countries coming to the exhibition. She decided to follow their example and selected a group of Dutch artists.

“We want to put the Netherlands on the map,” says Christa Logman. She proudly stands next to her painting, a more classical piece of a voluptuous woman in a red dress, to explain her work to visitors. “We want to show ourselves to the art world, like a kind of art ambassadors.”

Surrealistic
Liselot Been agrees: she points to her small painting which is on the side of the Dutch pavillion. It's a figurative picture with shiny wild figures. “I use digital techniques on an aluminium panel with lots of colours. A look into the universe, let’s say. Some say it is surrealistic. When I paint, the colours just flow and you can recognise things in them. Everyone makes their own associations.”

Ms Been hopes she can get the public interested in her work in Paris. “I think it would be great if I got a commission for new work here. Preferably with large panels, they are great to work with.”

Buddha
Ton Pret already has his first offer. He got a commission on the first day of the exhibition.
“I left flyers in the hotel where I am staying and a couple of people liked my work. They came here to see it and wanted to have this painting, but it has already been sold. I said: I can make something else. So they said yes: they wanted a Buddha and a bit of red and the rest is up to me.”

Mr Pret likes being an ambassador for Dutch art, but he also likes to sell his work. “If you only make it for yourself , they you don’t get any recognition.’

The annual exhibition is from 8 until 11 December at the Carrousel du Louvre

For more information: www.nationaledesbeauxarts.com

www.tonpret.nl
www.christalogman.nl
www.liselotbeen.nl

Dutch site: About my art