Series: onderweg
From time to time everyone waits in public spaces. Sometimes it might be a few minutes, other times much longer. Sam Reekers became fascinated by this common activity, whereby we are in transit without moving. In his detailed oil paintings, he depicts the state of being that waiting entails. He portrays people just as they are: bored, sleepy, or perfectly content, without any judgment on the waiting people or the act of waiting itself. Most of his paintings originate from photographs he took at train stations. Together, they capture often overlooked moments in life.
During the act of painting, Reekers works within a limited time frame, just as waiting has its own span of time. In this way, the subject matter and implementation converge. The size of his paintings invites viewers to stand close by. This makes observing the waiting people unexpectedly intimate. From a distance, the paintings collectively form a waiting room, of which you briefly feel part.
Text by Hagar Schuringa
Photo by Django van Ardenne
Photo by Sara Roos
Photo by Sara Roos
Photo by Sara Roos