ABOUT VINCENT
Curriculum vitae
Born: Sterksel (N.B.) Holland
Education: Royal Academy of fine arts and design in s-Hertogenbosch 1979-1984 | Pedagogical -Didactic Training Course in Amsterdam 1992 -1993
Playing with pure form and colour is the basis for the work.
Van Oss cuts out templates that evoke associations, composing them on his canvases, drawing them with pencil and painting in or around them. There is no abstraction of reality; a reality in itself is created.
The works are reminiscent of Henri Matisse’s cut-outs and Jean Arp’s shapes. But Van Oss uses a different formal language and a direct painting technique, increasingly related to Abstract Expressionism. In the formal language one sees a relationship with 1970s design. It can be traced back to nature and the term ‘organically abstract’ is applicable. Bram van Velde and Sigmar Polke come to mind as painters who inspired him. Van Oss aims at creating a clear image and allows the viewers space to consider what they see.
Vincent paints with acrylics and sometimes ink.
He often works in the same sizes for extended periods of time. Even after several years, he can go back to a specific canvas. This way, ‘Ongoing Series’ are created. Some paintings are watercolour-like, painted with minimal use of materials.
Others are considerably layered, as a consequence of his desire to keep on going. The decision if a painting is ‘finished’ and ‘good’ is sometimes not taken until years later. And maybe some series will be resumed later.
Two more extensive texts can be found here.
Exhibitions:
▻ Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (NL), Fifteen minutes of Fame, 2007
▻ Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven (NL), René Daniëls Kunstproject, 2012
▻ Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam (NL), Corona Archives, 2020
▻ W139, Amsterdam (NL), What the Queen may see, 1995
▻ Gay Pride, Amsterdam (NL), 1994 & 1998
▻ A’pert gallery Amsterdam; 1990-1993
▻ Artistik Galerie; 2007 t/m 2012
▻ Atelier Vincent van Oss > 1995 – 2012
Exhibitions Abroad for instance:
▻ The Artist’s Circle Gallery, (USA), Purple Passion, 2020
▻ John B. Aird Gallery (Canada), SCULPTURE 2021, 2021
▻ Eco Aware Art Gallery (India), Plastic is drastic, 2021
Publications:
▻ https://www.instagram.com/vincentvanossart/
▻ The Primal Form is Pneumatic by Vincent van Oss, 2010
▻ DeFKa Research SC 04, Souvenir & Residu, 2021
Archives up to 2000
various sizes | acrylic paint and pencil on canvas | no. 4 acrylic on paper
When the artist had found his direction, he initially worked with strictly defined forms and limited shades of colour. This technique generated very clear images. The titles of the works were also carefully considered.
Ink on paper
black & white | 40 x 40 cm | acrylic, pencil and sometimes ink on canvas | 2012 – 2013
pink ‘painting’ | 40 x 40 cm | giclee on paper | 2005
Ink on Paper is about working with traditional indian ink on paper: think up words, but also make blotches and doodles, both consciously and unconsciously. Literature and the visual arts are brought together.
Organic Movements
diameter 50 cm | acrylic and pencil on canvas | 2005 – 2007
These paintings on circular surfaces have movement as their theme. It is not only the flowing paint that suggests movement, the circular canvases also give you the feeling that you can rotate the composition. A rectangular canvas has a few possible tops and bottoms. The circle has countless possibilities. In the end, one top and bottom are chosen after all.
Untitled ✯ 180 x 135 cm
180 x 135 cm | acrylic and pencil on canvas | 2002 – 2007
On a warm summer’s day, it is always wonderful to spread out large canvases on the ground and get to work with big splashes of paint and large cut-outs. Playing is foremost; but not carefree, for in the end, a lot of thinking and watching is involved.
Untitled ✯ 65 x 50 cm
65 x 50 cm | acrylic, pencil and sometimes ink on canvas | 2009 – 2011
Composing and painting without a prior plan. The game is continued. Images evoke memories of existing images or induce new associations.
Nympheas
60 cm x 80 cm | acrylics on canvas | 2016
Inspired by Monet’s water lilies, Vincent van Oss presents his particular vision of these images. On his paintings we see the calyx shape of flowers. Water lilies grow by taking nourishment from the water. They are exposed to changing weather conditions. Rain and frost threaten them. They are vulnerable, but their roots and leafs also offer protection to living creatures in the water.
Man admires this androgynous flower as a symbol of opulence and peace and quiet. Water expresses the fleetingness and transience of human life, but the water lilies also stand for new life, for fertility. In some of his paintings Van Oss shows love-making couples taking the shape of this flower.
Wall sculptures
40 x 40 cm | lacquer on MDF | 2013
As I often use strictly defined forms, I decided to work with sawn-out – and sometimes pierced – MDF for a change. As a result, the work gets additional tangibility.
‘Teatrino is a tribute to Lucio Fontana’s ‘Teatrino’ series. ‘Picadilly Circus’ is a tribute to René Daniëls, who also made a series with this title.
Drawings from life
65 x 50 cm | charcoal on paper | 2004 – 2016
For years now, male nude models have presented themselves in the studio for student drawing and painting from life. If the organizer has time, he joins in! An exact representation is not the aim. Quick sketches – without too much shading – work effectively.
▸ ‘Visual Aspects’ of the series Archive up to 2000
▸ ‘180 x 135 cm’ of the series Untitled
▸ ‘Piccadilly Circus Nr.01’ of the series Wall Sculptures