BERT van DIJK
EDUCATION
After initially graduating and working as a Social & Clinical Psychologist, Dutch-born and New Zealand based artist Bert van Dijk decided to follow his passion and trained and worked as a professional dancer, actor, singer and director. Whilst working with some of the world's most innovative companies, he collaborated in the creation of dazzling, provocative and challenging performances that integrated the vocabularies of space, body, voice and heightened language, often performed in natural or urban environments (islands, derelict swimming pools, warehouses, national parks, urban lagoons, and so on).
Over the last decade, Bert grew increasingly disillusioned and frustrated with a performing arts practice that appeared to put economy above experimentation, transformation and risk-taking. When - on top of that - COVID started knocking on our doors, making any kind of live performing arts events impossible, Bert took a big leap to become a visual artist, exploring and expressing the meanderings of his imagination with acrylic, oil, pastels, charcoal and ink on a variety of surfaces.
"The last 2 years have been a thrilling journey discovering how to draw from and apply my 35 years of performing arts expertise within the discipline of visual arts. I am finding much joy and inspiration in exploring the impact and possibilities of enhancing and distorting complex dramatic imagery through the emotive layering of vibrant colour and abstract shapes."
