Estimated Value: $2,000-2,400 The work is part of the series ‘Silence and The City’ (2019 - 2020) The work is inspired by the choices we have in life on a spiritual level, moving towards darkness, towards the light or just passing by in the tumult of life. I see the cathedral openings as a metaphor for the direction you choose to go in your inner self, one opens a piece of darkness, the other opens a piece of the light in yourself. This painting reminds me of a phrase in the song ‘Hotel California’ ‘You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave’. I can relate on that, you can’t hide from the direction you choose for yourself. The process of growing on a spiritual level keeps on returning and you can only checkout when the big boss decides you are done, until then you can never leave. — About the series ‘Silence and The City’ - The series is inspired by New York City and the search for contemplation and inner silence in everyday life, about finding meaning in life and the connection of the spiritual world with everyday life. Every individual is confronted with a universal question how to find meaning in life. Van de Graaf feels a strong connection with the vibrance of New York City, but is also aware that searching meaning in life is sometimes harder when life is going that fast. The contrast between contemplation and the busy city life of New York City in a normal setting has been a great inspiration for him. He admires the ability of the city to be a melting pot of all kinds of people and really fell in love with the city. With this series he fulfils his wish to devote at last one series on New York. Van de Graaf draws inspiration from both the time he lived in New York City, 2006 - 2007, and his trip to New York in September 2017 and November 2019. When he was walking in New York City he was struck by moments of silence by different kind of places he documented. This documentation has been the starting point of this series.

Robert van de Graaf

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Robert van de Graaf (b. 1983, the Netherlands) is a visual artist living and working in The Hague, the Netherlands. He is primarily an oil painter with an interest in exploring the connections between the mystical in this world and the dimensions of the spiritual world and the soul. The works express a complex interplay of visual impressions intertwined with emotional and spiritual reflection and aim to cross the line from observation to introspection. He draws his inspiration from nature, the philosophy of life, spiritual and religious stories, mythology, and mystical places. Van de Graaf received a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Architecture (Technical University Delft) in 2009. At an early age he enjoyed an intense private painting and drawing training (1996 - 2001) by the Dutch artist Erica Meyster (1949 - 2006).  Since 2012 he is working as a full time artist and produced a large body of work, consisting of theme-based series of artworks, which are exhibited in numerous online and physical exhibitions, like his solo exhibition at the ‘Salon des Arts’ in Maastricht, the Netherlands (2023). The exhibition was curated by Ad Himmelreich, curator and former conservator of the Bonnefantenmuseum (Maastricht, NL) and he has written an essay about the work of Robert. His work is represented by gallery Al-Tiba9 Contemporary (Barcelona) on Artsy. Publication highlights include Curatory Magazine, Aesthetica Magazine, art magazine Al-Tiba9, Art Maze Magazine, Artsin Square Magazine and New Art Project Magazine. His art is held in private collections through the Netherlands, the United States and France.