INTERVIEW WITH ERIC DON AT HIS STUDIO IN AMSTERDAM.
Hue&Eye, thanks to st-Art Amsterdam, recently had a fascinating interview with painter and sculptor artist Eric Don – part of the st-Art collective.
He told us about his life and artistic practice and guided us through an exclusive tour around his studio space in KNSM Eiland, Amsterdam.
The studio and surroundings are themself a portrait of Eric Don. Structured yet ethereal, genuine yet complex, filled with energy where each piece finds its place. The Harbour overlooking the Ijriver is to Eric a continuous source of inspiration.
Upon arrival, his daughter Lara – who works with him – cheerfully welcomes us through. She explains how the whole area converted into a growing community of artisans by the eighties. His father indeed owns his studio atelier there for 40 years.
That sunny evening, sitting at a table by the Ijriver outside his studio – we started by asking him to tell us something about his approach to art. We needed to begin somewhere.
APPROACH AND TECHNIQUE
Eric Don was born in 1954 in Breda, in the South of Holland. He left at 17 years old to study art and painting in Utrecht and later at the Rijksacademie Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. It seems that Eric always knew that art would become his life. He started sculpting in 1975 and since then intensively explored the technique by mainly working with metal and bronze. Despite this – as for today – his relation with painting is still deep too.
“I make sculptures and 3D objects out of iron, wood, stone, and bronze. I combine different materials into one piece and weld metal, work with clay, and epoxy. I may say my work is semi-abstract yet recognizable,” he explains to us.
Eric aims at turning ideas into original pieces, both by painting, and sculpting. “Whether I paint or sculpt, my work has the same essence of reaching out to the present and past through their contradictions.”
His work is rich in references to Historical Mythology and Classicism.
When asked how he attempts at choosing whether to paint or sculpt a subject, he says: “Painting its a little like flying. When painting you are allowed to experiment through knowledge. It is easy to get lost, but it will always forgive mistakes. It is not the same case with sculpture, where one needs to plan. Sculpting is like choosing with no regrets.”
INSPIRATION
Our interview goes on while Eric mentions his sources of inspiration. Artists as Picasso, Gonzalez, Giacometti, Germaine Richier are still his masters since his earlier years.
However, what surprises us is his extraordinary interest and knowledge of music. Eric finds a significant relation between music and art. Probably driven by his art teacher who used to tell him: “Drawing is the first violin. Painting is the whole orchestra”, Don was also a drummer in a band. Citing Chagall and its correlation with rhythm, Eric has a strong passion for Stravinsky, Chopin, and avant-garde pop music. “Art and music are the same things.”, he says.
From NEXT Magazine:
He once explained during an interview with Next, Arte e Cultura (Fall, 1991): “I master the material I work with. When I find a piece of iron on the ground, or between the wreckage of an old ship, the material is not yet able to sing. It is only a piece of iron which, despite its history, is anonymous. What I do is comparable to the work of a magician, who Iets the material sing with the words and music which belongs to.”
‘NARCISSUS’
We now leave our table to follow him inside. He brings us to the Baggagehall building, right next to his studio. The industrial area showcases most of his essential sculptures, all well placed in the unique space.
One especially catches our attention. In a niche resides the Narcissus, an extraordinary work made of steel and chrome, completed in 1992.
Following the Greek legend of Narcissus, the handsome greek-like profile of the head is made of chrome and reflects its image into a pond made of steel. The piece speaks for itself, and the impact is powerful. It needs to be seen in person to highlight Eric’s talent to capture Narcissus’ expression while contemplating his reflection.
“I want people to get inspired by my work, and that is why I leave room to experience it.”
FUTURE PROJECTS
Eric Don’s latest project is about two bronze heads he is working on for some years. “I am still curious about the result!”
His only hope for the future is to maintain his creativity in action.
Eric’s work has been exhibited at various locations in the Netherlands and abroad and resides in various Dutch and foreign public and private collections.
For buying inquires or information about Eric Don, you may get in touch with st-Art.
To visit his website click here.
