“I work with material that people have

thrown away because they deemed it worthless”

– Diederick Kraaijeveld

Unexpected by Wanrooij is located in the famous gallery street in Amsterdam (Spiegelgracht 20), and is a space for experimentation from the main Wanrooij Gallery at the KNSM-laan in Amsterdam. It is a platform for artists from the Netherlands and abroad. It welcomes exceptional, emerging artists, who distinguish themselves through their renewing and outspoken visual language in contemporary art. At Unexpected by Wanrooij the audience have the opportunity to get an insight on the inspirations and studio situation of the artists by showing their works next to objects from their studio.

Old Wood – Diederick Kraaijeveld

Diederick Kraaijeveld (Oudhout/Oldwood, The Netherlands, 1963) constructs truly unique photo-realistic collages from salvaged wood. His images are icons plucked from the contemporary Diaspora: Chuck Taylor Converses, a Magnum .44, a roll of dollar bills, a pack of cigarettes, a VW van. The works are beautifully created from genuine, coloured vintage wood that the artist himself collects during traveling the globe: from abandoned buildings in the Mojave Desert to 16th century Dutch mansion floors. A single work can require over a hundred pieces of different wood. This process is as vital and impactful as the actual assemblage of the found materials. Though the pieces sometimes burst with colour, Kraaijeveld doesn’t use a drop of paint himself. He chooses, instead, to preserve the original colour and hue, allowing the individual layers to form their own unique combinations.

In Unexpected by Wanrooij Kraaijeveld shows his works, pieces of inspiration and the machine he works with. The videos in the gallery show his travels, search for material and the constructing of his works, also to see on his website; oudhout.com

Exhibition Rijksmuseum

Diederick Kraaijeveld is part of the big summer exhibition Long Live Rembrandt in The Rijksmuseum that is located a 10-minute walk from the Unexpected by Wanrooij Gallery with a portrait of Rembrandt.

The exhibition runs throughout the summer until 15.09.2019.