jalan
Godspeed
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The ever growing synergy between designer Katia Plewnia and artist Randy Etty has already led to multiple fruitful exhibitions. Reunited again to turn the successful Joie-de-Vivre exhibitions into a Selamat-Jalan-expo-2019.
In loving memory to their favourite artist:
Joe Etty (1940 – 2019)
of Labour of art
is an art in itself
T: Saying goodbye is an art in itself and so Randy and Katia
decided to make this exhibition all about Joe's art.
Katia is a designer, crafter and owner of fashion label, Labour of Art leather goods. She creates bags that carry dreams, ideas and stories. Her ecological leather bags let you feel the story which the paintings are telling. The raw edges and floating shapes of her bags resemble the hills, a stream or clouds.
Randy is Joe’s son. He has been taking art classes since 2009 with renowned artists, including at the Volksuniversiteit. He has also held the role of secretary for the Kunstgein art foundation, where he loves to interact with the artists. He has found a way of expressing himself through paintings and stone sculptures, with his father as a mentor and a guide.
Joe’s works have been displayed in an ongoing exhibition, named Selamat Jalan, since June 2019.
The gallery welcomed over 185 visitors in one week and
succeeded in putting together a tribute to his artworks which were displayed in the major part of the Niek Waterbolk art
gallery in Utrecht.
Now the exhibition continues in Landgoed Zonheuvel in Doorn, within a wonderful setting in the midst of the woods, where Joe’s paintings just belong.
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Visiting his favourite museums with Toos and Randy to satisfy his need for art.
appreciate his vision of
nature captured on works of art,
that will withstand the test of time."
He varied his artistic techniques, for example he would use fingerpainting, or work with the palette knife. He would also painting on location, where people could interact with him.
Joe and Randy in front of the Frangipani Painting
His only self-portrait
An interest in the Fine Arts had been running through his veins during this period, and so he started studying at Artibus (presently the HKU – High School of Arts Utrecht). After his graduation he discovered more renowned artists to guide him. His style developed day by day as he gathered inspiration by travelling to exotic places. Most of all, he loved to be in his own piece of land in Utrecht, where he grew vegetables and picked fresh fruit. Balance was found in just sitting on a bench, being within the plants and trees surrounding him.
After the family had moved to Nieuwegein he started a studio in his house and this is where his creativity really took off. After retirement, he joined the art group KCN (Artist Centre Nieuwegein) where his artworks were first exhibited.
He painted landscapes, portraits and made abstract works. His love for trees and flowers were vivid and clear amongst his paintings. The exhibition hall of KCN offered the space he needed to complete
an enormous painting.
On one of his early birthdays, he received his first box of colour pencils and discovered a way out of his harsh reality. His first sketch book was soon filled with drawings, from front to cover. The influence of the tropical environment was noticeable in his early designs.
At the age of 17, he was deported by boat to The Netherlands. Separated from his family again, he endured the long journey, landing in Amsterdam on a cold winter's day in January 1957. He finally settled in Utrecht, where his passion for life helped him find his way and he was finally able to embrace the 'Dutch Life'. Together with his wife Toos, he raised three sons. Toos has been his muse for his entire life since.
Joe teaching his grandson Dean painting techniques.
Joe Etty was intrigued by arts ever since his youth. Growing up in Indonesia during wartime, he and his family were taken to and held in a Japanese internment camp. He was separated from his father, and Joe and his three brothers had to take care of themselves under the most extreme conditions.
"He finally settled in Utrecht,
where his passion for life helped him
find his way and he was finally able to
embrace the “Dutch Life”."
Measuring 4.5 metres long and 2 metres high, the 'Indische kers' (nasturtium) came to life. He made a great effort to express leaves in 3D motion over linen canvases and placed blooming flowers floating over the surface. He discovered new ways of creating, using lost treasures for example, and he built marvellous sculptures. He loved to create to the rhythm of his favourite music, preferably Elvis Presley.
He was challenging himself to evolve, on his latest works of arts, he carefully applied paint to the canvass as if working on a bonsai plant. It was like sculpting with paint. All of his techniques flowed into one painting. Blossoming trees blowing softly in the wind, thriving and flourishing. It is like a full circle, his love for nature coming to life within his works of art. In April 2019 he painted for the very last time in his beloved studio.
< Joe's studio just how he left it.
Joe’s paintings are displayed at Art Gallery Niek Waterbolk in Utrecht and
Landgoed Zonheuvel in Doorn The Netherlands.
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jalan
Godspeed
The ever growing synergy between designer Katia Plewnia and artist Randy Etty has already led to multiple fruitful exhibitions. Reunited again to turn the successful Joie-de-Vivre exhibitions into a Selamat-Jalan-expo-2019.
In loving memory to their favourite artist: Joe Etty (1940 – 2019)
Want to see more and enjoy the special effects? Check the aricle on your Desktop computer or tablet.
jalan
Godspeed
The ever growing synergy between designer Katia Plewnia and artist Randy Etty has already led to multiple fruitful exhibitions. Reunited again to turn the successful Joie-de-Vivre exhibitions into a Selamat-Jalan-expo-2019.
In loving memory to their favourite artist: Joe Etty (1940 – 2019)
Want to see more and enjoy the special effects? Check the aricle on your Desktop computer or tablet.
jalan
Godspeed
The ever growing synergy between designer Katia Plewnia and artist Randy Etty has already led to multiple fruitful exhibitions. Reunited again to turn the successful Joie-de-Vivre exhibitions into a Selamat-Jalan-expo-2019.
In loving memory to their favourite artist: Joe Etty (1940 – 2019)
Want to see more and enjoy the special effects? Check the aricle on your Desktop computer or tablet.