Tulipa abstracta

Windmills, wooden shoes and tulips: Holland in a nutshell. Well, I've made myself clear about those windmills in an earlier blog (Dutch Quixote). Let's finish up wooden shoes and tulips in this one. 
Had a pair of blank wooden shoes waiting to be painted for a long, long time. In fact they have been hiding in my shed for so long that it surprised me when they suddenly fell down from a shelve. Newton explained why the shoes fell down. Lucky for me, Murphy's law was not obeyed this time. The shoes didn't fall upon my head...

Actually I was reaching for some white canvases as I wanted to paint a tulip. A funny tulip. The little wooden treasure changed my plans. In part...First made the Skredch (as pictured above), then used the character to make a couple of little abstract paintings (ID's) on paper. 

Now all I had to do was combining Dutch Quixote, the Tulip and my wooden shoes. Holland in a nutshell? Holland on wooden shoes!

P.S.: Made some Tees as well, check them out here! 

Perpetuum humanitae

Life is incredible. No matter what happens, life will find a way to survive. I'm not talking about the individual. Talking about the mutual organism. Life at large. Life itself. 

Lifeforms are found in the deepest oceans, on the highest mountains and probably in the most unexpected places in the universe.

Humanity as an organism functions as one big lifeform. No matter how many wars, fires, floods or natural disasters on its path, humanity proceeds. An endless "Perpetuum mobile" moving through time and space. 

Every man struggles. Every man suffers. (Note the reversed feet in my image!) All individuals are unknowingly cooperating. Being part of a worldwide organism known as mankind. Despite the irreversible loss of individuals, humanity proceeds. You may rebel the system. Fight your fellow humans. In the end you are just a part of the big machinery called humanity. Onward we go. Till the end!

Carte blanche

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Dutch singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot presented his new album 'Achter glas' (Behind glass, or Behind the window). He performed the song 'Witte muren" (White walls) live. A title, as he explained, referring to the walls he had been staring at, finishing this song. To work and look at the endless white walls was a decision he had made to prevend himself watching at the magnificent view he at the opposite side of the room. This is not as strange as it may sound.

Writers can suffer from writers block, once they are confronated with the pure white paper. Where to start? A question also known by painters standing in front of a new white canvas. On the other hand an overwhelming view provides an overload of information. It's hard to pick out a theme you want to use, whereas pure whiteness forces you to focus on your own thinking. And after all that's what the artist is looking for: purity of his art.

There's a magnificent painting titled 'Carte Blanche' by the Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte which inspired me many years ago to write a short story. You may read this story, conveniently titled 'Carte Blanche' as well..., on my website www.eduardmeinema.nl.

What lies beneath

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African refugees are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea without help of European governments. Tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have been moving to Europe in recent years, driven to desperation by war, persecution and economic stagnation in their home countries like Syria, Senegal, Eritrea, Iraq...the list seems endless.

Italy and Spain reiterated their demand that Europe should take control to avoid more deaths. Politicians put the accent on targeting the traffickers who make handsome profits from moving people north. Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, said: “We cannot and we will not tolerate these criminals sacrificing human lives on a large scale out of sheer greed.” True, but it takes time to achieve.

For the moment new initiatives are made by European citizens, not politicians. Civilians are organizing search parties on private owned boats to rescue the refugees. Which may cause new tragedies as people in despair will climb on board no matter what. 
Governments have made up ten rules. Yes, that's right: 10 rules. How will that help to solve the two main problems, the reasons why people are migrating: poverty and war? Lucky for the people who manage to survive the journey across the Mediterranean Sea. European government has  stated all European countries have to cooperate in providing the refugees bed, bread and breakfast.

mARTathon

Bijschrift toevoegen

We hadn't seen each other for three, maybe even four years. Far too long. Today they were here to pick up some paintings which were left unsold after we closed our art gallery in 2012. Or was it 2011?.
Mino, short for Dominiq Gonseth, and her husband Rudy Alleyn. 'Blacky' we nicknamed him somewhere in 2005. Or 2006. Boy,oh boy, my memory is getting too short for the number of years  I have to remember!

The last couple of years Blacky had been training in the Swiss Alps to participate marathons. Our friends live in Switzerland so training in the mountains is not as exotic as it sounds. As he was going to participate the Rotterdam marathon both he was 'in the neighborhood' and thus able to come along and pick up Mino's oilpaintings. As some of the paintings were rather large, the car was completely stucked. I asked him where he would leave the paintings while he was joining the marathon. "You can't take them along" I said. "Why not?" he asked. Can you imagine? Athletes carrying paintings across Rotterdam during the marathon? We just created a whole new sport: marthaton.

The New Frontier

If Hawking says it's right, it must be right. The aliens are out there and Earth had better watch out, at least according to Stephen Hawking. He has suggested that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist but that, instead of seeking them out, humanity should be doing all it can to avoid any contact. Although Hawking believes only a few life forms could be intelligent, he also believes that contact with such a species could be devastating for humanity.

Similarly, Lord Rees, the astronomer royal, warned in a lecture earlier 2010 that aliens might prove to be beyond human understanding. “I suspect there could be life and intelligence out there in forms we can’t conceive,” he said. “Just like a chimpanzee can’t understand quantum theory, it could be there are aspects of reality that are beyond the capacity of our brains.”

Hawking concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.” Hawking’s logic on aliens is, for him, unusually simple. The universe, he points out, has 100 billion galaxies, each containing hundreds of millions of stars. In such a big place, Earth is unlikely to be the only planet where life has evolved.

Famous lost words

My youngest daughter must reed several books for school. She likes reading so, no problem so far. Her teacher told her she must read some 'real' literature. No Chicklit, no Young Adult or other fancy fiction. So, like real shopaholics (sorry, no Kinsella either!), we went into town to buy some real literature. The heavy stuff. The words written by famous writers like Hemingway, Salinger and..."Excuse me?" the lady in the shop interrupted. "Who are those guys?". 
Alright, we've made that clear. Nothing 'real' available in the bookshop anymore. Yes, sure, Roald Dahl's Mathilda was there, but any titles like Kiss Kiss or Switch Bitch...not to be found. Power and the glory? On the beach? Catcher in the rye? "Excuse me? Are those movies?"

Onward to the library. The house of words. Well, plenty of words, but Hemingway? Nevil Shute? I decided to have a look at the Dutch titles. All the books compulsary in my student time were no longer available. 
Wh-r- did all th-  w-rds g-?
What h-pp-n-d? 
L st w rds?
G n .

Famous Fifteen

Ever heard of misattributed quotes? Who does not remember the famous quote of Andy Warhol: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” The pop artist, who built a fortune by mass-producing other people’s creations, may actually never have made those words up.

After investigating the statement’s history, art critic Blake Gopnik discovered that the Stockholm show’s creator, Pontus Hulten, included the quote in the catalogue’s compendium of Warhol quotes. “If Warhol didn’t say it, he very well could have" Hulten had said.

Photographer Nat Finkelstein also claimed he was the source. During a 1965 outdoor photo-shoot with Warhol, some bystanders tried to push themselves into the shot. Andy said to the photographer "...everybody wants to be famous". Finkelstein replied "Yeah, for about 15 minutes, Andy". He took that line Finkelstein claimed.

The quote first appeared in print in 1967. A Warhol insider, Larry Rivers, described an art world in which “everybody will be famous” in a book about the contemporary scene. 

Warhol rejected notions of “originality” in his art. He employed assistants who produced multiple versions of his silk-screens and embraced consumerism, reproducing images of soup cans and Hollywood celebrities. My guess? You really should see the hilarious version of Warhol in the movie "Men In Black III". Your opinion about the famous soup cans will be changed forever and you won't bother about fifteen minutes more or less...

Doomsday

The 'War of the Worlds' finally arrived in Paris. Authorities were alarmed by unidentified flying objects moving around the famous tourist attractions. Paris' nights are no longer ruled by the flashing light of the Eiffel-tower now a flock of drones is skimming the sky. At least four drones have been reported. With the terrorist activities of the past few weeks fresh in their minds Parisiens are alert to anything unusual. No wonder the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) caused some panick. Thus far nothing really happened as the reported drones apparently were no more than the toy-helicopters available online and at many toy stores nowadays. So, no invasion of terrorists on flying carpets.

Mind you, I have written about a spectacular and massive drone attack in my book 'Gatorway'. A social thriller reporting about societal problems most people are still unaware of. China has revealed an anti drone laser system, however this system is developed to protect the nation against military drones. It's not effective against a massive attack by a squadron of small drones created by hobbyists. Read my book and beware. Drone Doomsday is not imaginary! 
Sleep well...

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

My thriller 'Gatorway' is available at  amazon.com. (Paperback and Kindle).

Gatorway is a social thriller. A story which uncovers a societal problem, most people are still unaware of. What happens when terrorist groups and drugs cartels are fighting over power? When nano-technology meets ordinary crime and an innocent scholar gets involved in a world of violence? Dylan Timmers finds himself all alone on the most exciting and dangerous summer job ever…

NOW AVAILABLE!

Enjoy reading my blog? Blogentries are published in 'Skredchbooks'. 
Great giftbooks including a series of blogs previously published on my Skredch-blog, additional blogs never published before and 'backstage' information on some blogs and the artist. 

Get your copy now! Click at the link underneath:
Freedom is not just a dream, Skredchbook # 2
Also available at amazon.com

Forced audience

Last week I made a blog about the numerous awards available to performing artists, and how many of us want to be such an artist. Made a skredch about that long ago ('The universal rockstar', see note underneath). But I must also admit I once tried to create a few songs myself. Even had made up a title. The illusive title 'Forced audience', explained by a few simple words:

Only some of us can be the performer,

the others will have no choice

but to be the audience. 

What's more to say...all the world's a stage? 

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

'The universal rockstar' will be (re)printed in 'Pre-Skredch' / Skredchbook # 0, available at the beginning of April 2015.

Applause

Human nature inspires us to challenge our fellow humans. We want to be better than the rest. The winner takes it all, remember? Those unable to beat anyone in sports, are trying to outstand the rest by obtaining awards by performing, being creative, being the best pumpkin grower or whatever. Medals, sculptures any prize will do as long as we can proof our superiority. We've got to be better than the others who are doing the same we do. We are no longer searcing for a place in the sun. We demand our place in the sun. All we need is appreciation. And if we can't get our reward, we'll create a new game, activity or whatever it takes to show anyone we are better at least in this particular skill. The number of awards is increasing, their value likewise decreasing...Applause to all of us!

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

A new G.O.D.

Marketing managers are complaining. Their buyers are devided into numerous, almost individual subgroups. These groups are hard to trace down and its members even harder to convince to buy Brand X. This move of consumer behavior has been going on for years and though some marketeers bravely state their customers are known and mailed individually, the situation will get worse. New information channels and social media provide everyone the information they want, at a time they prefer at a price they feel acceptable. 

Whereas marketeers understand mass marketing is outdated, politicians have not made this step forward yet. The outcome of recent elections as well as the behavior of Euro-politicians during the financial crisis is disapproved, criticized and loathed by most Euro civilians. While many politicians are hungry for power and glory (well...power and money that is), civilians are longing for a new system. The choice for a political solution is getting individualised. No more place for huge political parties any more. Citizens no longer want to be ruled by numbers. Politicians must rule by the wishes of the individual at the time the civilian wants it, or needs it. Politicians must solve problems in a way civilians find comfortable and acceptable. Sure the pack needs a leader, but we don't need a pack of greedy, corrupt wannabees. Ego's longing for power and money. No more place for €GO's. We only want politicians when we need them. A Government On Demand. That's the new democracy!


T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

Gatorway

If you're a regular reader of my blog you will be used to strange titles. However, Gatorway seems to be unexplainable. Or...is it? Sorry to disappoint you, for now that is... If you're interested or curious about the meaning of this title you will have to read my latest thriller. 

The artwork for the cover is based upon the small painting illustrated in this blog. Only 20x20 cm (7.87 x 7.87 inch), mixed acrylics and sand on canvas. 'Sand tiles' I call these mini abstract paintings. A collection of these sand tiles will make an astonishing impression. You can buy them in my Etsy shop. 
Looking for another format or special colours? Commissions are welcomed!


Order this Sand Tile, AM214136, for $ 42,86


Interested in the meaning of this title? Read my book! Click for details or ordering
Gatorway for $ 14,99

NRGY

Science has reached a level of knowledge which enables us to enlarge our lifetime considerably. Todays newborns will be able to become 100 years of age. With this interesting expectation, mankind immediately proceeds to push the lines further and further. With an expected age of 100 accepted as a new reality, an expected lifetime of two hundred years becomes within reach and thus our new goal. All, as explained in the previous blog, part of our eternal quest for immortality. A useless quest as we already are immortal. The one and only certainty life has to offer, is the fact that energy will never be lost. After all, all we are is energy, so immortality is ours! 

Not exactly what we like to hear, as we are looking forward to achieve immortality keeping the physical conditions we are used to during our lifetime. On the other hand it's a comfortable thought we will live on in some way. So, as far as the quest for immortality is concerned...call of the search! 



T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

Lapis philosophorum

The quest for the Philosophers Stone is an everlasting quest for immortality. Humanity's first yearning is awareness, the second one is immortality. Awareness of one's self will illuminate the path to immortality. Herein lead stands as metaphor for ignorance while philosophical gold (Aureum philosophorum) stands for awareness. Antropological studies have confirmed that our unconscious believes it is immortal. How about that eh?

Driven by human greed, early alchemists did not seek immortality. Christian and Muslim alchemists interpreted the metaphor literally during the Middle Ages by trying to change lead into gold.

A man with upraised arms says: "I have reached the sky. I am immortal." A motif found in all religions, in all myths at all latitudes of our blue planet, running trough all ages. The stenographic image of the man with upraised arms is the letter "Y". A perfect pictogram for immortality. 

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

Print your heart out

While 'brick and mortar' shopowners are still struggling to compete with internet shops, a new challenge is already awaiting them. Technology proceeds at high speed, presenting innovations in an amazing uptempo rhythm. which seems to gain speed with every new invention. Although 3D-printing is not exactly new anymore, the printers are now rapidly becoming cheaper. Thus distribution to consumers is expanding. 

A 3D printer will enable anyone to print the object they desire at home. No need to wait for your shop to order your product, piece of art, equipment, or whatever you need...you simply create it yourself. Print anything you like, anything you want or need yourself. Shopowners are looking forward to printing their own customers...

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

Feelin' blue

Every now and then this feeling pops up. Out of nowhere, making you feel a bit uncomfortable. Longing for something that isn't here. At least, not at this very moment. 'Unheimisch' in proper English...I always need some music to get over it. To get back on the road again. Somehow I always end up with Robert Plant's 'Big Log'. Bit of a blues song, with a ryhthm that stays in your mind and seems to play on forever.

Robert Plant, who's fascination with the blues goes back to his early days as lead singer for Led Zeppelin, said: "I was competing for attention in a four-piece band that was phenomenal, and I was trying to attack the blues from a kind of white English viewpoint as a singer… I found myself overdoing it, but it worked. It was great, I was young -- I was 20 years old. Now I have the gift of perspective and I feel pretty good about it."

Great if you consider he also wrote a song called 'killing the blues'...Well, let's move on, like Robert sung in the big log: "There is no turning back - on the run"

T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise based on this Skredch-character are available at my Zazzle shop.

There you go!

Finally! The answer to the pressing question: 'Where did the other sock go?'
It's been a mystery for ages. Okay, decades. Alright, years. Well...it's been a miracle to me, alright? So, where did the other sock go? The answer suddenly popped up. Right in front of me. 

My own daughter just took a shower. Washed her hair. And...there it was. Or...there they were! Several socks were wrapped in and around her long hair. Why? Cause in the morning, yes you've read it right, in the morning her hair will be curled. So she sleeps all night with socks in her hair. Well, that makes my toes curl...


P.S. I've got to admit. The result is stunning!

Corridor

'Wouldn't it be great', she asked, 'to be able to look into the future?'
'I can't look back, so why bother about the future?' he replied.

Every year a new door is unlocked, an old one closed. Forever, so it seems. As there is no way you can return, no way you can walk back into the corridor of life. So, on and on you go, towards the end. Some are excited, some exhausted by every door they pass.
Every new door reveals new challenges to be won. And the old doors behind you cannot be reopened. Only memories seem to pass on through the invisible portholes that are covering the past. That is why we actually are travellers in time, looking into the future, living by the memories and experiences of the past.
Happy New Year!