The Abstract Self-Portrait emphasis on the experience of the (painting) process. By literally transforming painting Say Yes When You Want To Say No #6 into video and sound, the painting unfolds with each added layer. A color accentuates a tone and no paint implies no sound. With The Abstract Self-Portrait, Roukens creates new gateways through that process into that sublime experience. The video continuously constructs moments of contradictions between process and result, between painting and sound, and between the artist and the viewer.
Say Yes When You Want To Say No is an artwork that includes a series of paintings and short videos. The paintings are a result of the interaction between my obsessive perfectionism and searching for ways to oppose it. I used several experiments in the painting process to free myself from that obsessiveness in such a way that it broadened my perspective and to achieve that piece of mind. Each painting is build onto moments of these definitive decisions and doubts. Say Yes When You Want To Say No is one large artwork, in which every painting has its own story and is told through a couple of short videos.
For the introduction of Glenfiddich’s newest Whisky flavours in Amsterdam, I was commissioned to create an experience during a tasting session. The audience could taste Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series in several chambers. To complement this experience I created an enclosed space covered by painting “If You Can’t Be Good, Be Weird #1”.
Located in the heart of Amsterdam, lies De Tandwielenfabriek (an old sprocket factory). This industrial complex was given a new purpose for housing in 2015. For one of the twelve houses I created a wall painting. In which I gave new value to elements from the designated location.
The exploration in my own painting process, also extends to my artistic practice and position as an artist. I react to contradictions I come across in daily life in such a way that it can broaden my perspective and that of the viewer. For the series Notes To Myself, I used the painting as an object and I placed it opposite of printed media. As a reaction to a question that continuously keeps bothering me: “Why museums are allowed to commercially market their artists, but when an artist makes prints of his paintings it’s not done”.
If You Can’t Be Good, Be Weird consists out of four paintings in which I further explored the tensions of my obsessive perfectionism. In each of these paintings I deliberately used tape in the first layer, because of the risk that paint would slide underneath. So when the first layer was finished, I started rebuilding the grid without tape. By adding the same or new colours and varying it to different locations on the canvas. The differentiated pattern and adding black and white forced me to keep on changing the painting. It’s the obsessive perfectionist in me that wants to keep things under control, but the experimentation is a way of breaking through that cycle.
From besmirched bricks to graphic artwork. For 75 years, Farrow & Ball has provided extra character for interiors worldwide. In addition to the indoor decorations, the English paint and wallpaper manufacturer now goes a step further into the streets. Together with artist Daan Roukens they added a nice coat of paint on the façade of advertising agency Buutvrij for life.
Painting #18 is a commissioned artwork using paint-dripping acrylics. I started working with drippings in the first layer as another way of breaking through my obsessive perfectionism. When the first layer was finished, I began rebuilding the grid by adding the same colours and varying it to different locations on the canvas.
Notes To Myself marks the first series of paintings in which I started exploring with the boundaries of my obsessive perfectionism. The idea was to start with a specific color combination in a triangle pattern and gradually change the appearance. Each painting evolved out of a dynamic process from the beginning to the end. Each added layer gave rise to the intensity of the colours and created new levels of depth. By painting layer upon layer and intuitively adjusting the pattern and colours, each artwork resulted in an interaction between perfection and imperfection.
Artist Daan Roukens paints unique artwork on Amsterdam salon façade. After waiting 8 years for permission from the municipality, it’s finally official: Amsterdam’s leading hair salon Tommy’z Toko gets a new façade. Owner Tommy Hagen got none other than artist Daan Roukens to take on the challenging design. “With Daan Roukens’ creation on the façade of our building we are giving a new pulse to Amsterdam’s up-and-coming ‘De Baarsjes’ neighbourhood and confirming that Tommy’z Toko is always looking for innovation”, says a proud Tommy Hagen.
The first offline presentation of my blog and platform No Rest for the Obsessed (NRFTO) in the showroom of press agency Public_. An exhibition of my most recent paintings, a mural and a curated selection of their showroom products. The launch was sponsored by Warsteiner, Southern Comfort and festively ushered in with DJ performances by DiscoDave and Mitchell LC Yard.
Digital Prints is a series of limited edition geometric prints on high quality paper that I created autonomously and for several commissions, such as Lomography and Teva. By extending my signature painting style of adding layers, I transformed this technique digitally designed prints.
A selection of paintings from 2008 till 2014 ranging from autonomous to commissioned work. A variety in sizes from small watercolor paintings to bigger paintings in egg-tempera and oil.
A selection of T-shirt collections from 2008 till 2011 ranging from autonomous projects to commissioned designs. My own collections were an extension from my paintings. With each painting I created a design in the same color combination and used my logo as the basis pattern. Both the painting and collection carry the same title and were presented together.
I created this geometric wall painting with a combination of the famous Chinese Tangram Puzzle and the colors of his ‘The World Is Yours’ painting. Selected by the Keep an Eye Foundation in collaboration with the Sandberg Instituut for Artpie 2010.
The installation We Are All In This Together was made during a working period of two months in an authentic Chinese ceramics factory. In collaboration with local workers I developed this work with natural products from the environment, such as the clay and the glazes. The factory specializes in handmade flower pots and other ceramic purposes. The workers use a technique that is special for the Yixing region.
