STUDIO UITERWAAL KROES
Painter Aron Kroes and photographer Merette Uiterwaal began their collaborative work during the global pandemic in 2020, after sharing a studio space for several years. When the world grew silent, their creative partnership flourished.
Merette's abstract portraits became the foundation for a new series of collaborative works with Aron. His expressive and intuitive painting style breathes life into her abstract photographs, creating a dynamic interplay between their mediums.
Individually, both artists explore themes of identity and color, which naturally flow into their joint work. Color plays a pivotal role, not just in the contrast between Merette's and Aron's perspectives but also because Merette is colorblind. After acquiring glasses that enabled her to see colors, her palette expanded, offering a fresh perspective that enriches their shared creations.
In their collaborative process, they use their own bodies as canvases, transforming themselves into different characters through the application of paint. Some images are boldly covered with vibrant colors, while others are delicately brushed with softer tones. Despite using their own bodies, these works are not self-portraits. Instead, they resemble actors assuming new identities on stage. The naked body becomes the canvas, and the paint defines the character it portrays.
Bodies become canvases where paint and photography meet in dynamic dialogue and new identities
Their collaboration turns the human figure into stage and medium, where perception and performance merge.
studio uiterwaal kroes IN their own words
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"Because we see color so differently due to Merette’s colorblindness, we’re deeply inspired by colors. Our conversations about color combinations take on an added dimension, pushing us to think in new and unexpected ways. Beyond this, we draw a lot of inspiration from people-watching, long walks and bike rides in nature, and beautifully crafted dishes."
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"Our work unfolds in multiple phases. We start in the photo studio, experimenting with various poses, wigs, and movements during the photoshoot. After editing the photos, we select several to print in specific sizes. Once the prints arrive, we move on to the painting phase—this is the messiest, but also the most fun part of the process. We decide whether each portrait will evoke a tranquil or wild feel, determine the direction of the paint, and choose the color combinations. Working with acrylics requires us to act quickly, and not every piece turns out as planned. After framing, we carefully consider how to display the portraits, shuffling the artworks around until we achieve the perfect combination on the wall."
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"Right now, we’re experimenting with larger formats, going up to 1 meter. Working on this larger scale is an exciting new step for us!"
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"We’d love to create a large installation of 12 or more portraits for a grand, expansive wall—a massive group portrait in one place."