The paintings of Merijn Kavelaars are a euphoric vortex of colour and form. “Fighting with colour and form is my obsession, ecstasy and torture.” Daily issues and imaginative narratives are combined in a naive and expressive style. The results are esoteric and magical worlds that express an anarchistic degree of freedom and dark sense of humour.

With Kavelaars it is about the act of painting. He feels more part of his work while painting on the floor, moving around and interacting with it from different angles. The process of creation unfolds in the interaction between consciously and subconsciously applying different layers. The transition of one layer into another can arise within a week, month or year. In applying this method, Kavelaars creates pieces that cover a whole period of his thoughts and feelings. “I want to create a world I can get lost in. I want to be able to look at it endlessly, discover new meaning and reflect on it. A painting is a mirror for my soul.”