Maikel Deekman (1971) unites two worlds in his work: that of his Surinamese ancestors and that of Dutch modernism.
The basis of this artwork is a mosaic of fabric patterns derived from his ancestors, the Surinamese Maroons. 'The fabric has a visual rhythm. Each pattern has a particular meaning for the Maroons.'
As a second layer on top of the fabric patterns, Deekman painted a grid of red lines. It is the color of the raw material bauxite, which occurs in the Maroons' habitat and is essential to the aviation industry.
Aluminum is made from bauxite; the main material in aircraft production. From the 1950s until 2015, Suriname was the largest supplier of bauxite worldwide - a fact Deekman is proud of and pays tribute to with this piece.
The top layer in the work is formed by silver and white lines. The horizontal silver line represents aluminum, and the blurred
In his work, he also explores how different cultures experience time. 'There is a continuity of interruptions and repetitions in the fabric patterns, which reflect the rhythm of life of the Maroons. They live in harmony with nature, the seasons, and the position of the sun.' This contrasts with the West, represented by the grids and lines in the artwork, where time is often experienced more strictly and rushed.
Maikel Deekman
Maikel Deekman
Maikel Deekman
Maikel Deekman studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, but also has a background as a graphic designer and audio-visual technician. The abstract, geometric work of modernists such as Theo Doesburg and Piet Mondrian continues to inspire him. Deekman's work has previously been shown at Galerie Ron Mandos in Amsterdam and various art fairs.