Dutch artist Joram Roukes returns to 1xRUN with The European available in standard and a collaged hand-embellished editions. Roukes comes back hot on the heels of his recent solo exhibition Colossal Errors & Major Mistakes with our friends at San Francisco’s boundary pushing Mirus Gallery. Read on as Roukes gives us the breakdown on his recent edition, most recent exhibition and more. . .
1x: Tell us a little bit about this piece.
Joram Roukes: I painted this piece shortly after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris in 2015. In the composition I unified references to The Netherlands and France as a ways of expressing solidarity.
1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Joram Roukes: It was a piece that stood on itself mostly. It was included in a few group shows, but it wasn’t part of any particular series.
1x: What materials were used to create this piece?
Joram Roukes: It was done in oil paint on canvas.
1x: When was this piece created and how long did it take to complete?
Joram Roukes: I painted this piece in 2015 and it took about a week to paint it.
1x: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Joram Roukes: Come to my current show at Mirus Gallery.
1x: Tell us a bit about your process and how the idea and execution came about for this piece?
Joram Roukes: Like I usually do, I create a collage in Photoshop. After the attacks in Paris this collage kind of came together semi-consciously and it felt very fitting for the time. I altered a few details in the actual painting to complete it and the result felt strong and cohesive.
1x: What do you feel is unique about this piece compared to some of your other work?
Joram Roukes: It has a more clear political or social message if you are open to reading that in it than most my paintings do.
1x: Describe this piece in one gut reaction word.
Joram Roukes: Strength.
The European – Standard + Hand-Embellished Editions by Joram Roukes – Click To Purchase
1x: As 2016 comes to a close, bring us up to speed on what you’ve been up to this year.
Joram Roukes: I’ve been working on several shows this year. First in Copenhagen in April with Galleri Benoni and currently with Mirus Gallery in SF. A few other projects as well. Lots of traveling and shows and working on commissions as well as some murals in Seattle. It has been a busy and eventful year.
1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you would like to talk about?
Joram Roukes: My current show at Mirus Gallery in San Francisco ‘Colossal Errors & Major Mistakes’ runs until December 22nd. I’m making a little artist road trip to Orcas Island in Washington State this month and 2017 is packed with Pow Wow Hawaii and two planned shows in Paris and Rome.
1x: Where else can people find you?
Joram Roukes: Website – Instagram @joramroukes – Facebook
– 1xRUN