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.

Although Annemieke’s work can be humorous and tender, she does not shy away from confrontation. Steven’s portrait shows the otherwise well-groomed politician at a crisis moment, where Annemieke directs the other side of the coin. The crooked tie and unkempt beard underscore the contingency he must face. These raw, unconcealed emotions, for Annemieke, are the moments that life is all about and that she wants to capture.

Next to Steven hangs the portrait of Chinka. Dressed in uniform, Chinka’s satisfied gaze slips past her decorated chest to the viewer. Chinka is a captain in the Curaçao Volunteer Corps, VKC, and in 2018 she was nominated by her foster children for a royal decoration. This meant so much to her that she wanted to capture the event in a unique way. 

Chinka approaches Annemieke with her story, and she creates a stately portrait for her, expressing the special occasion. She places Chinka half turned away and left of center on the canvas. This allows equal attention to her imposing uniform and the row of recognitions. In doing so, Annemieke uses the so-called frog’s perspective, which forces the viewer to look up to her. Because, says Annemieke, you have to take your hat off for someone who does so much for the community.

People are central not only in Annemieke’s work but also in her life. Her friends are important to her. In the recent period, she went through a deep valley, and her friends were her support. Annemieke feels she is back on top now and confidently faces the future. But it took her a while to get to that point. She has incorporated much of what happened to her into the ceramic sculptures.

The sculptures are symbolic and describe events with a wink. The sculpture “Rooster” shows a woman’s bust with a rooster on her head. The white spot on the woman’s head is from the rooster’s feces. It is a reference to how Annemieke feels treated by partners in relationships. The images “Water to the Lips” and “Torpedo ” also reflect that hurt. When things unexpectedly go wrong in a relationship, it is as if your world collapses, and it is hard to believe what is happening to you.

Josée Thissen and Annemieke Dicke.

Yet she also creates the sculpture “Wounded Healer” because your experiences enable you to support and help others. The bust with the frog on the head and the gold earring “Frog” is a reference to the fairy tale of the Princess and the Frog. In the end, there is healing, and faith in the future is restored.
The other ceramic works, “Personalities,” “Vase with Lighthouse,” and “Vase with Loafer” are references to earlier themes in her oeuvre. Surprisingly, the artist subtly gives these older themes a place in the new exhibition.

Annemieke is proud of the exhibition she has put together because it shows where she stands in her development as an artist. Annemieke had to isolate herself for over a year in creating the exhibition. The paintings are built up in layers. Most works have at least 25 layers, which takes time. A period of seclusion is necessary to maintain concentration.
With the portraits, she has explored a theme that is new to her. Portraits were already present in Annemieke’s paintings in recent years. But now, she has delved much deeper and elaborated on the theme. Each portrait tells a story through the attributes, pose and gaze of the person portrayed.

Annemieke loves color contrasts. Although she shows with the portrait of Chinka that she can work figuratively and realistically, in the other works, she plays unfettered with color. Faces are built up in shades of blue and green, or she freely adds accents in contrasting colors. Her style is loose and bold at the same time. Often the person portrayed looks straight at the viewer, but sometimes she catches the person in an unguarded moment, and then the eyes are averted or even covered.

Annemieke’s message is clear. Be aware of your fellow man, your surroundings, and above all, love. She promptly admits that it also applies to herself. She adds that she wants to make a difference for people who come her way. Art is a good tool for that because art is healing. That applies to looking at art and, for example, listening to art or making it yourself.

For Annemieke, the reaction of the audience is essential. That is one of the reasons she is present every Saturday to talk with visitors about her work. In turn, she uses those reactions to develop further and improve herself.
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2022, Annemieke will give an “art talk” at Landhuis Bloemhof to give insight into her motivations and creative process. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. ET.

Previously published in Amigoe on September 27, 2022. Photographs by Edsel Sambo.
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Click here for Annemieke Dicke’s profile on Curaçao Art.