Henk Olijve's painting is concentrated in small images of an almost comic
strip cut. The oil technique is really rigorous and reminds the great technical
tradition of Dutch painting. Instead, his paintings' prospective is modern
in the choice of themes, with an unique character of an almost military
appearance that acts his part in unlikely backgrounds, empty of every
decorative element.
What are the space's limits of Henk Olijve? There are no points of reference,
no prospective; there is only a man, who walks, fluctuates, acts and who
tries to give a meaning to his presence in that place. Sometimes other Men
act with him; like an obsession, the antagonists of the protagonist have his
same aspect, they are his doubles. Olijve portrays himself in his paintings
with the help of photo's. He uses his image as a tool to create performances
with a strong ritual character. This can be a simple action, but also combined
with an object. Because he sets this role as a protagonist in an indefinable
space, he evokes feelings of estrangement rather than recognition. The
environment functions as an expressive setting. Olijve wishes to encourage
the spectators to use their own intellect in their quest to explain everything.
This produces more questions than answers.