Niek Put

"'The death of a student' (244 x 122 cm) uses the myth of Osiris as an archetype for personal transformation. In Egyptian mythology, Osiris symbolises death, resurrection and change. In this work, I link these elements to the process of graduating, long hours of study and ‘ordinary’ student life. The panel depicts both the frustrations and the satisfactions that this period brings, thereby functioning as a personal overview of my development during my time at art school.

What began as a two-dimensional painting gradually evolved into a layered whole in which painting, miniatures, ready-made objects, lighting and building materials come together. By combining different materials and techniques, a work emerges that seems to be constantly expanding, as if new stories and associations continue to accumulate within the surface.

Within the work, I combine humour and horror in a chaotic collection of small stories, fascinations and personal references. Playfulness plays an important role here. Despite the heavy subject matter, the work remains inviting. I approach my working process intuitively. Ideas, objects and associations were constantly added to the panel during the creative process, allowing the work to develop organically.

As such, the work reflects not only my artistic development, but also a personal shift in which I let go of control in favour of a freer, more chaotic and unpredictable way of working."