About
Erwin de Vries
Even at a very young age, Erwin knew that he wanted to become nothing more than a visual artist.
Since his very first exhibition in Paramaribo in 1948, he has expressed himself in visual art in an exceptionally dynamic and vigorous manner, not just in his style but also in the way he displayed his works of art.
A versatile, expressive artist. Due to his thorough professional training in the Netherlands and his special talent, he has developed an interesting, highly individual style – both in his realistic and in his free works – which is totally different from that of his European colleagues.
His work was a game to him, as he always use to put it. He didn’t have to think or reason out what should be put on the canvas or what his sculptures should express.
He was a spontaneous, fast and playful worker. The smoothness and freedom with which he used his brush and his colors, lend vigour to his work.
He didn’t like to bind himself to rules or etiquette. He mainly wanted to do what he felt, to be himself without a mask, without fears….. And neither did he like to give analytical reflections on his work.
He has participated in group exhibitions with Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Ossip Zadkine in Sonsbeek.
In 1970 and 1998 Erwin had solo exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and in 2009 a solo exhibition in the Kunsthal in Rotterdam.
He is the maker of the Slavery Monument in the Oosterpark Amsterdam, revealed by Queen Beatrix on July 1, 2002.
Erwin de Vries is affectionately called the “Rembrandt of the Caribbean”.
More than 30 of his sculptures can be seen at public places, in museum collections and public buildings throughout Amsterdam. Many of his paintings and sculptures are in museums and private collections around the world.