Written by Josée Thissen-Rojer.
Through Oct. 8, 2022, Annemieke Dicke’s solo exhibition will be on display in the main hall of Landhuis Bloemhof. Every Saturday, the artist herself is present to meet visitors and discuss her work. The exhibition is titled Personalities and consists of a series of painted portraits and ceramic sculptures. The vast majority of the works are new and created especially for this exhibition.
The central theme in Annemieke’s work is people, and this exhibition is no different. The room is full of portraits that stare at the visitor, sometimes challenging or sharing their mood. A person’s appearance is the basis for Annemieke, but what matters to her most are the different personalities, each with their own story, feelings, and emotions.
Another aspect that makes her work fascinating is the tenderness and humor she brings to it. For example, hanging unexpectedly among all the beautiful portraits is a series of mischievous goat heads. Their large yellow eyes with horizontal pupils break the serious undertone of the whole.
The portrait of Carlene, despite its enormous size, is a tender work. The painting is less pronounced than the other large works, nor are any props added. Still, it is an intriguing painting that continues to draw attention. Carlene’s face is soft, but unexpected wisdom radiates from the young woman’s eyes.
Annemieke explains that she intentionally painted Carlene’s portrait on a vast canvas. She knows Carlene well and considers her a remarkable woman with a big and loyal heart. That is why she deserves a large canvas, Annemieke states.