DUTCH ARTIST WHO LOVES BIRDS (?)

I recently came across another artist whose work is unusual and captivating. JANPETER MUILWIJK  (b. Fontainebleau,  France in 1960) lives and works in Middelburg, the Netherlands. He studied drawing and painting at the Christian School of the Arts in Kampen and Architectural Design at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht. Most of his scenes are directly adapted from the Bible. His drawings are made with pencil, although in some works he adds a little color with gouache. Though delicate, they have well-defined outlines. His figures often appear to be carved from stone, even though they seem to float, giving us a sense of lightness. They  make me want to laugh or at least smile.

One of my favorites in his 2017 painting "New Gardener"  which  shows the risen Christ in a white T-shirt and overalls, heading with open arms toward Mary, who is dressed like a bride to receive him. (Mary is modeled after the artist’s daughter Mattia, who committed suicide). Butterflies alight on each of Jesus’s five wounds, marking them as sites of transformation, and the flowering branches of a tree crown Him with spring glory.

The artist says: “In this traumatic period of my life, painting turned out to be a source of comfort, raising the big questions in a different way after the suicide of Mattia. There were no unequivocal answers, no definitive conclusions, but images that drilled down to a deeper layer, beyond thoughts and words. This series of paintings offered me a look into my own soul. In spite of the big shock of this great loss, they incorporate a calm presence of loveliness and comfort. Death is only a passage. My deceased daughter brings me into an endless space beyond my perception of finite life: the immortality of our souls.”

 One of his most famous works is a tapestry for the Nieuwe Kerk in Middelburg, The Netherlands. It is 11 x 3 meters with seven scenes that wind upwards between two rivers, depicting a passage bordered by water.

The artist  designed the tapestry in a studio in Italy, where he looked for inspiration to the ecclesiastical art of the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. Afterwards the drawings were scanned and sent to a computer operated Dornier loom to be woven. Then in the following months 25 people from Middelburg filled in details by embroidering by hand.

In a detail is the Good Shepherd, full of care focusing beyond Himself. With His legs he forms a portal to the upper scene of the tapestry. He connects with the viewer, oriented outwards, oriented towards care, with the nightingale at His feet.  Almost all of his art has birds in them.

Finally we come to pure wine, accessibility and openness. A half kneeling and blessing Christ joins himself by way of a grapevine to the people around him. It is a harvest feast with bread and grapes, spontaneous, genuine and inspiring. With a breath of relief they are all one in their joyous celebration.

The artist sums up his work:  ‘In its totality it is a happy scene. That is something I do not see very often, especially not in religious art. All of this, of course, is a very serious matter. Yet that strange and naïve lack of inhibition of the figures, those rows of people, I believe in them.’ 

Some of other favorites include: Jesus as the Tree of Life, with His wounds freshly revealed, and several birds present to Him.  He is breathing Life (which is a recurring theme). I have not been able to find anywhere why birds mean so much to him, unless like me he is an ardent birder!

Here one sees a blackbird, a (European) goldfinch and a bird at Jesus' right foot I cannot identify ( not knowing many European birds). The goldfinch is known to be a symbol of sacrifice, the soul, death, and resurrection. The Goldfinch became known as a symbol of the Passion because of its markings and its diet. Because the goldfinch eats thorns, like those on Jesus’ crown as He was crucified, the goldfinch became linked to the Passion.

Legends also developed that described the goldfinch pecking at Jesus’ crown of thorns during his walk to the cross. According to these legends, while the goldfinch flew around Jesus’ head, some of His blood dropped onto the goldfinch and thus the red markings on a goldfinch can be attributed to drops of Jesus’ blood on the cross.

Blackbirds are treasured for their melody of song during spring and summer months. With Blackbirds, we learn that life is filled full of mystery elements and we never know about the way it might unfold before us all. 

When counseling His followers against worrying, Jesus remarks how the crows (or ravens) do not stockpile food (Luke 12:24). Thus, alluding to the wisdom of these birds, He indicates that God will provide, too, for His disciples and others in need.

They  remind us that we should trust that each day and choice is fruitful and provides us with a lot of insight into the mysteries surrounding our existence along with the paths that we choose in life. Note the blackbird here is also expelling breath as if to give new life.  The blackbird appears in more of his art, than any other bird.

Another lovely work is the Annunciation which shows us a dove in the window, but also an unusual lamb, to representing the coming of the Lamb of God.