Photo: Han Shuel
From September 2 to November 12, 2023, the solo exhibition by Dutch artist Han Schuel (Voorschoten, 1958) can be viewed at the Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd. In the historic rooms of the townhouse, Schuel displays paintings from his 23 years of work, as well as more recent work. This is the fourth exhibition in a five-year programme, in which the Central Museum, in partnership with the Hartwig Art Foundation, presents works by Dutch artists with a proven track record.
Han Shuel
Han Shuel has built a consistent and outstanding business over the past 40 years. He has been one of the artists who have contributed to a strong painting revival in the Netherlands since the 1980s, but he cannot be linked to any group or movement. In a sense, hiding doesn’t fit anywhere – and that’s exactly what makes his work so special and special.
Schuel often works in a series in which a particular motif leads to a series of paintings. Selections from the HEAT and BLAST series can be seen at Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd, along with other works by the artist under the name –. At first glance his work appears abstract, but upon closer examination it turns out that the paintings are drawn from reality. Whether it’s comics (like Eyes In -), MRI scans or infrared images (in the HEAT series), everyday trappings are never far away.
Since 1985, Schwell has been working on aluminum rather than the more common canvas. The artist uses the full color spectrum to create a powerful image time and time again. If you look closely, you can almost see dozens of thin layers of paint.
Han Schuel was educated at the Academy of Visual Arts in Rotterdam and at Ateliers ’63 in Haarlem. In 1983 he was awarded the Royal Support for Painting and made his debut in the Art Gallery and Project. The artist has had many solo exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad, including at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2000). His works are part of art collections in the Netherlands and abroad, including the Central Museum in Utrecht, the Boemmans van Bueningen Museum in Rotterdam, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the United States.
Publishing
Accompanying the exhibition is an extensive study of Han Schuel’s work, published by Gap Sam Books and designed by Bot Gutink, with contributions from Zepora Elders, Laura van den Hout, Gerrit Willems, and Bart Rutten.
Old country house Amelisweerd
Stichting Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd is an initiative of Stadsherstel Utrecht. The Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd guarantees public access to this unique national monument and, together with the makers and institutions of Utrecht, is building an interesting program in the fields of art, science and history.
The five-year programming of the Central Museum Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd is a partner project of the Hartwig Art Foundation. Han Schuel is the fourth artist in this series and his paintings run from September 2 to November 12, 2023. Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd has previously hosted artists Amy Dick, Marijke van Warmerdam and Hannah van Baart. This will be followed by an exhibition by Ansuya Bloom in spring 2024.
Entrance to the Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd depends on a donation. More information can be found at Landhuisoudamelisweerd.nl.
