ABOUT THE ARTIST AND STATEMENT

ERIC WERKHOVEN
Eric’s art work and life are equally colourful. Eric was born in Java, Indonesia, his heritage is Dutch Indonesian. His family moved to Holland and later to Tanzania, Africa. Here he spent a happy and spirited boyhood, surrounded by the exotic beauty and dangers of wild Africa.
His teenage years were lived in Holland, there his interest in the Arts developed, attending Art College in Den Haag.
The yearning for open space and adventure led Eric to Australia in 1972.
Travel has been an integral part of his life, journeying to Israel, New Zealand and New Guinea, revisiting Indonesia. Absorbing the ethos of different lifestyles has been an important factor for his artistic development.
Eric attended the Visual Arts Diploma Course at Newcastle University in
1988-98, and has had many exhibitions of his work in Newcastle.
Eric is primarily a sculptor but also loves drawing, print making and writing.

Exhibitions of collaborative works with Robyn Werkhoven, CAPRICE were held at SOAG Gallery Newcastle in 2009 and 2010
Collaborative work on fabric was selected for Art / Fashion Event in Basel Switzerland, 15 world artists, T –SHIRT CULT 2010.
The Blake Art Prize 2010 – collaborative work with Robyn Werkhoven chosen for Director’s Cut Exhibition.
For the past few years Eric & Robyn Werkhoven have collaborated on drawings and paintings for exhibitions in Australia and Europe, “Caprice” a major exhibition was held at Maitland Regional Art Gallery in 2011.
In September Eric curated and exhibited in Preparation for the Final Journey at Newcastle Art Space Gallery.
Eric’s sculptures are also represented at SOHO Gallery in Sydney, held a solo show there in 2010.
In 2012 Eric won the figurative sculpture Maitland Art Prize.

Eric and his wife, artist Robyn Werkhoven will hold an exhibition of their collaborative work and Eric’s sculptures at Kaleidoscope Gallery, Waterloo Sydney, and 23 Aug – 5 Sept. 2012
At present his studio and home are in East Gresford a rural village in the Hunter Valley.
In 2013 Eric will hold a solo exhibition of sculptures at Manning River Regional Gallery NSW.

Sculpture Mediums: Eric works with various mediums – sand stone, wood and mixed mediums. Recent works are made from autoclaved aerated cement and adhesive cements and oil paint and lacquers

ARTIST STATEMENT
“The influence of my Indonesian roots and African upbringing, including religious Javanese themes are integral to my sculptures and drawings. The works are often vivid and colourful, depicting many cavorting, mythical beasts and human creatures.
To capture motion and the intimate unity of beasts and man that has lasted through the ages to still influence the imagination.”

WEB SITE: www.studiolaprimitive.com
Ph: (02) 49389 572
Address: 32 Durham Rd. East Gresford 2311 NSW

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