Light Memory

It was the former Director-General of the Vatican Museums, Professor Francesco Buranelli, who approached Wessel Huisman during an exhibition in Florence with the fascinating question of how he, as a Dutch painter with a specific view of light and space, would capture the iconic locations of Rome. Wessel responded with two exhibitions, which in 2024 could be seen at the Museo del Foro Romano and at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR).

"Wessel's attention to Italy has much in common with the old Amersfoort masters in our collection. For that reason, I have been following his work for years. Now it is high time to bring Huisman's Rome together in the Netherlands with the cityscapes of Van Wittel and Withoos." — Onno Maurer, chief curator, Museum Flehite.

About Wessel Huisman

Wessel Huisman has a background in both visual art and history. While studying at the Academy for Visual Arts and Design in Arnhem in 1979, he simultaneously studied history at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Although he never worked as a historian, his artistic oeuvre is marked by a profound interest in the relationship between present and past.

Huisman: "Rome is extensively documented digitally by its visitors — the photos and videos seem to reflect our relationship with reality. This exhibition is also a powerful statement in favour of the power of imagination in painting."

Painting through time

Light plays a central role in Huisman's work. From his earliest childhood in Breda, he has registered and stored all manner of light conditions. In the same way that scents can do, this archive of light stimulates his memories. In this way, Huisman travels through time as he paints, bringing back to life light conditions and experiences from the past. Conversely, it can happen that while walking along the Tiber in Rome, he is reminded of a specific impression of light and atmosphere from his childhood. In his work, history returns not merely as a thought or memory, but as a vital and intense experience of the present.

Balance between figurative and abstract

Huisman connects the figurative with the abstract in his work. For him, paint is the bridge between these two worlds. He plays with the power of illusion and recognition that a painting can evoke, making his work both intriguing and marvellous.

Wessel Huisman exhibits regularly and internationally, particularly in the Far East. He has been represented in China since 2012 by Moyi Art Gallery in Shanghai. In 2016, supported by the Dutch Consulate General, he spent over three months there as artist in residence. His work is unique in the way it brings together light, time, memory and history.

Author: Annebeth Felet