Until 1 June theatremakers, actors, artists and dancers are forced to sit at home. As part of the official measures aimed at keeping the spread of the coronavirus under control, exhibitions are off and performances have been cancelled. What do these measures mean for Piket Art Prizes’ young artists? Part 16: Jordan Herregraven.
Impact of the measures
The first few weeks after the corona measures had come into force, Jordan Herregraven, 2019 winner of the Piket Art Prize in the Painting category, felt rather uncomfortable. “I was worried, because I’d actually planned to visit my parents in the US after a three-year absence.” He is less restless now, but keeps in close touch with his family. “I am enormously grateful for the Piket Art Prize. It means recognition, so it’s a great incentive. In these unsettled times, the sum of money also helps me to support myself.” Jordan had no exhibitions planned for the near future – he had actually just had one. “The only thing that has been cancelled is an auction at De Aanschouw in Rotterdam. Just before the outbreak of the virus I had an exhibition at artist space Trixie in The Hague. It attracted a lot of people. I really appreciated jury member Maarten Demmink coming to see my work.”
So what now?
Jordan is working hard, creating new work in his studio on the Prinsegracht in The Hague. “I go there every day, I’m very productive. I take more time for my art.” Days are more tranquil than usual, though. “I take my time getting up and walking my dog. When I’ve done that, I get to work.” At the moment, Jordan is creating sculptures in wood and making objects with fabric and watercolours. “I’ve just finished a sculpture. It’s a surreal work in which I incorporated a fetus. I try all kinds of things. Apart from wood, I also work with other natural materials, human hair for instance,” he explains.
Plans for the future
“I would like to join a gallery where I can exhibit regularly,” Jordan says. “At the moment, it’s not easy to plan ahead, so the only thing I can do is make new work and do this as best I can.” Thanks to the Piket Art Prize there is no necessity to take on side jobs to get by. “I’ve done all kinds of jobs, bicycle courier for instance, or odd jobs at a gallery. Now I have more time to focus on myself and on art.”
Photo: Hessel Waalewijn
