STARRED BY PAN AMSTERDAM: LONNEKE GORDIJN
Lonneke Gordijn is co-founder of the artist studio, DRIFT. Together with Ralph Nauta she creates large-scale and often moving sculptures for museums, public spaces and other locations around the world. In 2025 they will open Drift Museum in the van Gendt Hallen in Amsterdam. She focuses on the complex relationship between humans and nature. She explores how humans often view nature through a human-centric lens: at times projecting human qualities onto it, and at other times revealing how nature reflects human influences. This mutual dynamic serves as a central theme in her art. We have asked her to ‘star’ five works at the 37th edition of the PAN Amsterdam.
1. At Stone Gallery, The origin of Art (stand 53) Lonneke was amazed by a fragment of Pyrite from Spain. The work appears man-made, but these are natural forms. It’s fascinating to see how nature could create something like this. The interplay of elements makes it look as though it was crafted by human hands.
2. At Galerie Huub Hannen (stand 55) Lonneke selected Taraxacum II (2024) by Mirjam Abraas. This drawing reflects Gordijn’s perspective on the world. It emphasises the importance of observing details—not just the colossal or grand scale, but also the small, intricate elements. “What a beautifully made drawing.”
3. At Galerie Harms Rolde (stand 68) Lonneke selected Rennend hondje (1962) by Pieter Pander. This piece features a dog completely focused on a ball. The animal seems almost more human than animal. Living among humans, the dog has become fully integrated into the human world, a phenomenon the artist captures remarkably well.
4. At Galerie Jan van Hoof (stand 14) Lonneke selected a work by Eelco Brand, WL.movi (2024). This work employs an interesting medium that explores how humans might interact with nature in the future. It is a hybrid form of natural elements and digital ideas. It’s fascinating how the artist has used nature and given it a kind of futuristic vision.
5. At Galerie Mokum (stand 50) Lonneke chose Working home (2022) by Gustav Sundin. It evokes thoughts of personal life and home. This, with a laptop, plants, etc., has become our new "nature." After millions of years of evolution, this is where we’ve arrived. The world is now in your home instead of outside in nature. The plant is decoration; it no longer fulfils a basic necessity for life.
Want to hear more from Lonneke? On Tuesday, November 26, at 2 p.m., she will take part in a talk at the PAN Podium.
1. At Stone Gallery, The origin of Art (stand 53) Lonneke was amazed by a fragment of Pyrite from Spain. The work appears man-made, but these are natural forms. It’s fascinating to see how nature could create something like this. The interplay of elements makes it look as though it was crafted by human hands.
2. At Galerie Huub Hannen (stand 55) Lonneke selected Taraxacum II (2024) by Mirjam Abraas. This drawing reflects Gordijn’s perspective on the world. It emphasises the importance of observing details—not just the colossal or grand scale, but also the small, intricate elements. “What a beautifully made drawing.”
3. At Galerie Harms Rolde (stand 68) Lonneke selected Rennend hondje (1962) by Pieter Pander. This piece features a dog completely focused on a ball. The animal seems almost more human than animal. Living among humans, the dog has become fully integrated into the human world, a phenomenon the artist captures remarkably well.
4. At Galerie Jan van Hoof (stand 14) Lonneke selected a work by Eelco Brand, WL.movi (2024). This work employs an interesting medium that explores how humans might interact with nature in the future. It is a hybrid form of natural elements and digital ideas. It’s fascinating how the artist has used nature and given it a kind of futuristic vision.
5. At Galerie Mokum (stand 50) Lonneke chose Working home (2022) by Gustav Sundin. It evokes thoughts of personal life and home. This, with a laptop, plants, etc., has become our new "nature." After millions of years of evolution, this is where we’ve arrived. The world is now in your home instead of outside in nature. The plant is decoration; it no longer fulfils a basic necessity for life.
Want to hear more from Lonneke? On Tuesday, November 26, at 2 p.m., she will take part in a talk at the PAN Podium.