WORK IN PROGRESS, Series ‘Silence and The City’
2019 September – 2020 September
The series ‘Silence and The City’ 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. The crossroads in the paintings are a metaphor for important moments in life when the choices of the turns you take determine directions in life.
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 is the starting point of this series.
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. He finds the contrast between contemplation and the busy city life of New York City very interesting. He admires the ability of the city to be a melting pot of all kinds of people.
