Marijke van Warmerdam

Marijke van Warmerdam's work is characterized by the fact that no single image is given undue preference. The realization of one possibility does not exclude other options. Hence the sequence. The artist has turned her back (4 x) on her troubles (1 x) - a black stain. White folds. Red folds. Sky-blue image slides inside. Every cloud is lined with gold. Gerhard Richter squeeged the paint across the canvas. Marijke van Warmerdam spreads the paint with a spatula, like filler on a wall. Painting becomes plastering. Covering over. Smoothing away. Images from one of her films are printed onto large canvases. The wild thrashing of flowering sprigs is brought to a halt in an infinitely extended moment. The windless world of white streaks is invaded by a stroke of paint. The series is the result of lengthy contemplation and determined production. Devised, considered, reconsidered, and then, produced in one go. Let them dry a while and Bob's your uncle. Equally resolute and decisive. Simple an monumental. The hesitation, the searching - it all remains off the picture. The artist has gone to the trouble for the pleasure of the observer. Robert Rauschenberg painted with a broom. Marijke van Warmerdam sweeps the paint across the surface with a broom. Painting becomes sweeping. Making a clean sweep. Good riddance to bad rubbish. (from: Dominic van de Boogerd, 'Private Pop', in: Cut, issue 6, October 2009)