Lob Makandra: The Paintings of George Struikelblok

“The two subjects that have influenced my entire life are love and death,” says George Struikelblok, whose father died before he was born. This absence in his childhood led to a sadness and lack of understanding, which would go on to make its way into his artwork, which, for a time, reflected this inner darkness in its own gloomy tones. Struikelblok describes this work as somber in nature, though he embraced the abstract, emotional quality of these paintings. Everything shifted, however, when Struikelblok became a father himself. The images began to brighten as the concept of family took on new meaning, as love replaced what death had taken.

Today, Struikelblok’s acrylic paintings are playful and vibrantly colored with thick patches of blues, greens, and oranges. His pieces are tied to the theme of family with titles emphasizing togetherness, happiness, and embrace. The imagery itself is a collision of worlds, exhibiting touches of Mondrian and Ralph Steadman, but also incorporating letters and numbers representing communication. At the heart of Struikelblok’s work is the dictum “Lob Makandra,” which translates from Sranan to “Love each other,” a lesson life has taught him well.

Exhibition Dates: January 21, 2017 – February 10, 2017

Reception: Thursday January 26, 2017, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11-6

Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, Chelsea, New York

Event URL: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/George_Struikelblok.aspx

Featured Artists:

Plurality of Expression

Alejandro (Alexati) Carrillo  |  George Struikelblok  |  Robert Thiebaud  |  Aurélie Beer  |  Kate Wilson  |  Mimi Moylan  |  Falcan Iulia-Lavinia

About the Exhibition

The Many Worlds in "Plurality of Expression"

Agora Gallery is pleased to present Plurality of Expression, a new group exhibition highlighting the incredible diversity of visual language that the human mind is capable of creating. Seven artists are featured, among them painters, sculptors, photographers, and interdisciplinary artists. The group hails from a wide range of places including Peru, Romania, and Canada, and their far-flung origins influence their work in unexpected ways. Instead of any one artist creating pieces in a traditional or characteristic style of their home, this group represents the ever-increasing globalization of our world. Each artist shows knowledge of old and new techniques, and local and foreign aesthetics. Influences are cherished, but they are also interrogated and pushed further. Information travels quickly in the art world.

The strength of Plurality of Expression lies in just how different its featured artists are. One painter creates meticulously realistic tableaux of utterly fantastic landscapes - a road floating over an endless sky, or an egg that has sprouted its own feather. Another artist creates digital photographs exploring the nature of femininity through wondrously tactile liquids and fabrics. Yet another makes jewel-toned paintings of flat, serpentine figures, and another makes infinitely layered visions of the cosmos.