Visiting Street Artists.
Kenneth Letsoin a.k.a. Naamloozz
Kenneth Letsoin a.k.a. Naamloozz was born in 1972 in Almelo. He attended art education in Enschede, but the art academy was not inspiring enough. He decided to go his own way, the street became his teacher. In 2017 he moved to Rotterdam. Kenneth mainly makes street art (murals, waste installations, advertising poster cut-outs), but he also makes artworks in his studio. His work reflects his surroundings in his unique way. Colors, people, animals, the hassle of the street, architecture, anything can inspire him. His art is abstract, expressive and full of energy and color. Kenneth is also often involved in community projects, gives workshops in schools or makes murals with the children.
Kenneth Letsoin stays on Bonaire from April 4th to May 10th 2021.
Tymon de Laat (@tymondelaat)
Tymon de Laat is a visual artist and muralist working and living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The port city bristles with life and creativity, informing his unique urban contemporary art, as he literally leaves his mark upon the city itself. However, it is not just his hometown that is an essential part of his work, as de Laat’s work is greatly influenced by his deep love and appreciation for Latin-American, and particularly Mexican culture.
After graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy de Laat decided to travel to Latin America. It turned out to be a year-long journey living on a relatively sparse travel budget, this made him realize he didn’t actually need much funds to feel fulfilled. Rather, he found joy in his interaction with locals.
When he eventually came back to Rotterdam, he could do little else but pay tribute to Latin America, the part of the world that gave him so many insights about how he saw himself, the world at large, and the art wanted to create. De Laat started painting murals and canvases, often based on his own photographs of the people he met during his travels. He exaggerates the natural lines in their faces, and fills the spaces that appear between those swirling lines with swaths of vivid color. The linework and color palette he applies in that way, are a means of translating his memories of Latin America to visual imagery. The food, the architecture, the clothes, and particularly his respect for the culture of indigenous peoples; it’s all in there, as de Laat transitions it over to enliven drab Western concrete.
Tymon de Laat stays on Bonaire from January 24th to February 28th 2021.
Edoardo Trionfera a.k.a. Dodici (@dodici-art)
Edoardo grew up in Rome, Italy but moved to Rotterdam a few years ago. He is a successful professional illustrator and artist and is working on several street art projects. “I would describe my style as minimal. I mainly use black and white because I like the contrast and personally I think those colors have a certain elegance. My focus is on drawing characters. That is why I am always very conscious of my surroundings. When I walk around the city or wait for the subway, I watch people and let them inspire me for the characters I use in my work. Mostly there is a message in my work and an aim to get a smile from my audience. “
Eduardo stays on Bonaire from october 25th untill december 5th 2020.
Artistic Coaches.
Ghislaine Monte
@ghis.arts
Ghislaine Monte was born and raised on the neighboring island of Curaçao. Drawing has been a passion of her as long as she can remember but she didn't make a public artwork until a street art festival in Curaçao in 2010. In 2012 she went to Holland to study Commercial Economics thinking it might not be a bad thing for an artist to know how to run a business. Since graduating she has joined several street art festivals around the world, enjoying the street art community, perfecting her painting skills and the 3D technique. In 2019 she moved to Bonaire and is currently combining working for the Chamber of Commerce and making a name for herself as a professional painter.
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Robert Kramp
@artby_rn
My Artworks are an extension of myself. It's abstract and expressive and I never know what it will look like beforehand. There is a message in most of them, small things which you notice when you know me, about who I am or how I feel at that moment. But every idea I have can change again. Sometimes I come back to something I've made and I start working on it again. Apparently it wasn't finished yet.
I started when I was 28. I was into fashion but didn't have the money to buy designer clothes so I started customizing what I had. Adding some rips, spilling some paint on it and people seemed to like it. We started doing festivals, me with the clothes, a hairdresser and some tattoo artists. I am working on my own brand right now: Off the Grid.
Friends call me crazy. Crazy but someone you can depend on and a loyal friend. Until I was 21, soccer was my whole world. When that dream fell apart, I didn't have a clue what to do. Not a 9 to 5 person that was sure but it took me a long time to figure out who I am and what I wanted. I am a late bloomer.
What do I want to be when I grow up? A better version of myself. As a person, as an artist. Never stop moving, never stop improving.
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Loes Hak
@alohabonaire
Former careers include horse groomer, taxi driver, lunch lady, extra and actor, set designer and owner of a B&B. Currently: freelance artist. Company: Aloha Bonaire
“If anything goes and I have a giant blank wall to paint on? I would make a huge portrait of Dolly Parton. As she used to be, with the big hairdo. She reminds me of an amazing birthday when we ended up singing Jolene over and over again. Real loud and full-hearted. So loud that the kids escaped upstairs.
I like to paint realistic and happy. Nothing too dark or gloomy. I want my art to make people feel good. I like variety but I prefer portraits and I like to work big and in public spaces. Location matters. I study the place, what is it like? What is its history, what is fitting to paint here? I think that is what I really like about my work. Every time different surroundings, different clients with different stories and requests. And the excitement if they will like your ideas.
If you’d ask others on what I am like, I guess they will say: sweet, nice, relaxed and creative. Cheerful and positive. Definitely not consistent. Finishing everything I started is another problem and I hardly ever get mad, but if I do, it is bad! I started working as a professional artist about three years ago. I get bored easily and had a dozen or more jobs. But being an artist hasn’t bored me yet and I don’t think it ever will. Although, I have to admit, I have said that before..
Judmar Emerenciana
@marzworldd_
Born on Curaçao and raised here on Bonaire, Judmar works as graphic designer for Edge Art designs (EAD). He has always been drawing, starting with stick figures when he was 5 and on to cars (because his dad had this awesome car) before more complex pictures and paintings. " I like to challenge myself, try to draw what I see, see if I can get it right." Two high school art teachers inspired him to go further, challenge himself even more and got him into cartoons and graffiti. Around that time he started thinking about Marzworld, a cartoon he is developing around two characters: Marz and HD. " They are actually both me, the right side of my brain and the left side. But it could be about anyone because we all have these different sides to us. When they work well together, we are balanced." Judmar hopes one day he'll meet the right people to give his ideas some wings. To make his Marzworld a printed or animated published cartoon. His advice to the young participants of Street Colors Bonaire is the same he told himself: "use your mind to the highest capacity and you can achieve anything. Always think outside the box, think like Marz!".
Tatiana Nicolaas
@shegoesbytxn
Our Bonairean girl. Tatiana graduated in 2019 from the Academy of Art in Utrecht, Netherlands with a master degree in fine arts and education. As soon as she held that diploma, she packed her bags and returned to her favourite place on earth; Bonaire. She is currently working at Young Bonaire, providing after school programs with fun and above all lots of art. As passionate as she is about art and art education, she is about the culture of Bonaire. It is her aim to connect these two, to combine the old with the new, tradition with innovation. Hopefully inspiring kids on the island to do the same.
Initiative
Street Colors Bonaire is an initiative of Fundashon Plataforma Kultural.
Ghislaine Monte - Project Employee
Karine de Wit - Project Employee
Mimoun Himmit - Corporate Director
Marieke Knol - General Director
Visit our website on www.hofikultural.com
Photo Credits: Kenny Ranking