Hans Overvliet | DISTANT SUFFERING
Martha Jager, curator Vleeshal in MiddelburgNL about the oeuvre after a studio visit:
The dedication to art as a relational verb is central to Overvliet's work. On the one hand, the balance between poetry and criticism is special, in that the work never becomes bitter or pedantic, while at the same time the dialogue with the viewer is actively maintained.
It is a tender form of activism that moves nd urges action and also continuously questions the role of art.
Since 2013, by means of the ongoing art-series distant suffering, the Dutch artist Hans Overvliet (Leiden, 1952) investigates the role of the media in their representation of (military) violence. This, in the context of themes as perception, memory and identity formation.
Overvliet uses a various range of media, symbols and codes, bringing together dichotomies like beauty and violence, refinement and brutality, the sublime and the vulgar.
Aspects of power, politics, exclusion, censorship and the connection between artist, artwork and viewer infiltrate his multifaceted conceptual oeuvre.
As a reporter, Overvliet was an eyewitness to the events in the Middle East during the 1980s. Of course these experiences resonate in distant suffering.
Elements of distant suffering were exhibited in the Netherlands, Belgium, Pakistan, England, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Albania, Germany, Lebanon, the U.S.A., Brasil, Greece, Argentina and Sweden.
In 2023, his whole body of paper collages ( 1999 – 2012 ) joined Geert Verbeke’s renowned collection of collages and assemblages.
In 2024 - 2025 the whole oeuvre of was exhibited in the museum part of the Verbeke Foundation. All the work will then be included in the permanent collection.
Next to his art-work Hans is, together with his wife Willy van Houtum, the founder and every day guardian of ruimteCAESUUR, the 30-year old space for contemporary art in Middelburg in the province of Zeeland.
2024 – 2025
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation (November 17, 2024 – April 2025)
oeuvre retrospective | curator Marie Verboven
VeniceItaly | Visione Altre Galleria (February 1 – February 16)
Art direction: Adolfina de Stefani | Antonello Mantovani
Kunsthal 45 | Den Helder (March 16 - May 8)
curator Margo van der Pool
2024
Middelburg | Roofprintpers | Leporello (November 29, 2024 – January 1, 2025)
curator Leni van den Berge
A selection of my paper collages 1999 – 2012, is published in BALLUSTRADA, idiosyncratic literary magazine since 1986, volume 38 no.1/2, spring 2024
curator Ko de Jonge
İzmirTurkey | Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi (May 15 – 21, 2024)
curator Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi
Burgh-Haamstede | Bewaerschole | MIGRATION (August 24 – September 22)
curator Geeske Pluijmers
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation | winter exhibition | exhibition collages
curator Marie Verboven
Municipality of Middelburg | Makers Scheme:
Hallways, a study / images of corridors and halls in private homes and (semi-) government buildings in Middelburg.
Vlissingen | ik geef je mijn raam – I give you my window presentation project Sylvia Hubrouck
a selection of poetic videos - LOOKING THROUGH THE EYE OF W. #1, in conjuction with the film festival Film by the Sea
2023
ChaskaU.S.A. | THE ARTISTAMP REVUE | Curator Adam Roussopoulos
Cultural Center Toonbeeld in Terneuzen | 'Pakje Kunst' ( small package of art )
Curator Harmien Hamelink
StockholmSweden | Slipvillan | Curator team Studio44
Dishoek - Bunker WWII | curator leon riekwell
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation | all paper collages 1999 -2012 are included in the collection of collages and assemblages by Geert and Carla Verbeke-Lens
AarhusDenmark | Juxtapose Art Fair | Curated by Cecilie Bernts, Pamela Grombacher, Sasha Rose Richter and Jacob Juhl
ruimteCAESUUR | with Gallery Durden and Ray | Curated by Jorieke Rottier
StockholmSweden | Längholmen | KEEP ON BREATHING | Curator Masoud Shahsavari
Los AngelesU.S.A. | Durden and Ray | Curated by Carlos Beltran Arechiga
Middelburg | Smith Art | Curated by Johan de Koning
KleveGermany | kunstverein Projectraum bahnhof25
2022
LahorePakistan | In the glare of grey moon | Ranrez art gallery
Curator Mehreen Hashmi
BruggesBelgium | Expect an Occasional Attack … and Flee | CultuurCentrum Brugge
Curator Jan Verhaeghe
Geelong Australia | KART | David Delifiora
Peace letters to Ukrain #2Germany [ no. 38 – video i.d. of a shared bullet ]
Curator Wilfried Agricola de Cologne
BeirutLebanon | Kite project Art Exhibition at Institute for Palestinian Studies
Curator Sebastian BernburgU.K., Arts Coordinator London
StockholmSweden | presenting teamCAESUUR | i.d. of a shared bullet
Supermarket Independent Art Fair
Curator Alice Máselníková, Creative Director
StockholmSweden | part of the summer exhibition in Slipvillan | Curator team Studio44
Česká SkaliceCzech Republic | Luxfer Open Space | presentation Lípa Art Collection
Curator/collector Roel van der Linden
TiranaAlbania | part of the (first) Tirana Biennial of Graphic Arts - first edition
Art Gallery of Tirana
curators Beste GürsuTurkey , Helidon HalitiAlbania, Zake PrelvukajKosovo
MunichGermany | Haus der Kunst | Super BOOKS 3
Curator Jürgen O. Olbrich, for NO-INSTITUTE, KasselGermany
2021 – 2022
StockholmSweden | Studio44 | December 6, 2021 – January 6, 2022
Curator Rikard Fåhraeus
2021
Česká SkaliceCzech Republic | Luxfer Open Space | residency
AarhusDenmark | Juxtapose Art Fair | Curator Sasha Rose Richter
2020
Zeeland | Art Magazine decreet | Also in the public space of Middelburg
MilanItaly | MEN OF (street art) | Independent Artists | Curator Martina Buttiglieri
Tilburg | Steal like an Artist! | Kunstpodium ‘T’
Curated by Lost Painters | Niek Hendrix
2019
KarachiPakistan | Kabutar 1 | Curator Mehreen Hashmi
Milantaly | Kabutar 2 | Manuel Zoia Gallery
Watermans Arts CentreEngland | London | exhibition D.R.H.A.
Curator Klio Krajewska
2018
Willem Twee art space | Den Bosch | DISTORTION |
Curator Loek Grootjans
2014 - 2017
Middelburg | Abby Complex | Iconoclastic Fury | 2017
Amersfoort | Biënnale Foreign Guests | 2016
Gouda | Art Gouda | het Weeshuis | 2016
SYMPOSION | Gorinchem | 2015
Mon Capitaine - Middelburg | 2015
AntwerpBelgium | (WOOT) | 2015
Vlissingen | Willem3 / Goes | W45 kunstruimte | 2014
1999 – 2014
Le Secet | 2014
CBK Rotterdam | 2013
Veere | SPRING | Grote Kerk Veere | 2012
Kunstuitleen Terneuzen | 2011
Stadsgehoorzaal Middelburg, Foyer | 2009
Sanders Geluk: PROJECT ARTIST-IN-CARAVAN | Kunstsuper Rotterdam | 2007
1/1 ALMOST GENUINE | CBK Zeeland Summer Studio | Middelburg | 2006
Jan van Leeuwen Stichting | Middelburg | 2005
[LOGO! NO LOGO?] | BrughesBelgium | 2003
VERDER TERUG | Trechter 5, Goes | 2002
Koetshuis van de Groep Planning, BruggeBelgium
Brughes Cultural Capital Europe 2002
RAAMWERK | OostendeBelgium | 2001
ENGAGÉ! - West-VlaanderenBelgium, Zeeland, Nord-Pas de CalaisFrance | 2000
Galerij Germinahof | Sterksel | 2000
Presentatieruimte De Overslag | Eindhoven | 1999
inancial support
Municipality Middelburg
Mondrian Fund
SBKM / Vleeshal Middelburg
Frits Lensvelt Stichting
KulturrådetSweden
Region StockholmSweden
Awards, residencies, commissions and public collections
Winner Global Arts Award 2018 from Red Line Art Works, a UK-based global arts project, category art series; Sea foundation | Tilburg | [ residence ] September – October 2018 / Mondrian Fund; Luxfer Open Space | Česká SkaliceCzech Republic| [ residence ] September 2020;
Work in private collections, Independent ArtistsItaly , Ranrez Art GalleryPakistan , LIPACzech Republic , Karpuchina GalleryCzech Republic, Verbeke FoundationBelgium and public spaces in Axel and Neeltje Jans.
Art-related activities Hans Overvliet as part of his art praxis
2015 - 2021 Co-initiator of Association Art House Zeeland, platform for artists
2013 - Co-creating Kunstpark Vlissingen / Landscape Art Park Vlissingen
2009 - 2019 Chairman Foundation Artists Studio Complex KipVis
2009 - 2014 Chairman Foundation decreet / concrete, Art magazine decreet
2005 - 2012 Chairman PLUS MIN Foundation, Renesse, succeeded by IK Foundation, Vlissingen
1995 - Founder, curator & co-director of Art Space ruimteCAESUUR
1995 - Curator / art educational projects advising governmental institutions on art