In our increasingly complex and fragmented world, the most important thing to me is to create powerful and intense works of art that speak in very direct, honest and simple terms. After painting for several years, I came to the conclusion that I needed to create my own system or process to express my ideas in an intuitive and direct way. This I call Wasserkrug. The Wasserkrug paintings are the result of a long period of reflection and experiment. The aim is to clarify and simplify. It was my intention to follow an evolutionary path that would lead to this goal. In this sense, Wasserkrug is a kind of fundamentalism focusing on the underlying structure of the painting process. For me, both the process and the finished product are equally important.

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The subject i.e. the Wasserkrug comes from the German language and means water jug. It is taken from Dutch 17th Century still life/vanitas painting which has been one of my major influences. I am particularly drawn to the attention to detail and use of light, tone and composition in these paintings. The Wasserkrug itself has obvious symbolic meanings in connection with water such as purification, the sustenance of life, religious rituals, which work on a number of levels.

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So to recap, the Wasserkrug has a dual significance. Firstly, it is a system of clarification and simplicity. Secondly, it is a universal object with cultural and symbolic meaning. It is a simple construction that brings together spiritual, philosophical and psychological ideas in a unified system.

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Even though the Wasserkrug itself has symbolic meaning and is the central subject of my work, I believe that the most important thing is to paint well. The art of painting is in the construction and execution eg. composition, form, tone, line and texture. These are the fundamentals of painting and if the painting succeeds, it is because it has been painted well. Having said that, the subject matter should also engage the viewer and in this respect, the symbolism/idea of the Wasserkrug should not be underestimated as it is a vital part of the finished work.