Flip Gaasendam (Groningen, 1957) is taking part in the group exhibition Klein maar fijn at the Stadsgalerie, a gallery for contemporary figurative art, with a number of small works. His paintings stand out for their loose brushwork and unorthodox approach. In his depictions, the focus is not so much on recognisability as on the unique play of light and the poetic atmosphere.
“My inspiration goes back a long way. I remember sitting in class whilst it was snowing outside. The snowflakes turned white on the ground, but as they swirled down they were dark grey. That sense of light, from outside to inside, has always fascinated me. Interiors offer the opportunity to paint this. I almost became a top-level billiards player, but I gave it up because I don’t like competition where there’s only one winner.”
After graduating from the Minerva Academy, I began creating interior scenes. No two are ever the same; I can spend years painting scenes in the station restaurant and the Van der Werff hotel on Schiermonnikoog. Other themes include the salt marshes with cows, the Reitdiep, the Noorderhaven and still lifes. I make drawings in a sketchbook and small studies, which can be developed into large paintings. Not every scene is suited to being depicted on a larger scale; sometimes it’s better to keep it small and intimate. The starting point is what I have actually observed, but my work isn’t figurative in its details; it leans more towards the abstract.
“Sometimes people recognise themselves in my paintings, but they are not portraits in a space; rather, they are figures engaged in an activity.”
I leave out a few things too, but you can still recognise what it is. A painting doesn’t end at the frame. It’s a snapshot of a complete interior. I freeze a moment in time with oil paint. I don’t just make a single sketch, but a series. I work on them for quite some time: weighing up my options and putting them back on the easel. I don’t rush towards my final goal; I enjoy lingering amongst unfinished pieces. I find life drawing very important to keep up. I apply what I’ve learnt in terms of posture when I paint people in an interior. Sometimes people recognise themselves in my paintings, but they aren’t portraits in a room; they’re more like figures going about their business. I use brushes that have had a life of their own. They tend to do their own thing a bit. I don’t constantly fight against that, but go with it, following my instincts. I also sometimes work with my thumb and index finger, especially in the past. Creating a painting is quite a process!”
The exhibition ‘Klein maar fijn’ is on display until 30 August 2026 at the Stadsgalerie (Oude Boteringestraat 8). For more information, visit destadsgalerie.com/expositie-agenda
This article previously appeared in KUNST. magazine #4 (p. 38).