Rewriting stories
- Pepijn is inspired by natural history and legends
- For him, ceramics is a means to play
- Visiting China informed his craft
Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk’s world is a journey into fantasy realms as depicted through his ceramics and paintings. The name of his atelier Cirque de Pepin applies the word ‘circus’ to reference the weird and wonderful creatures that he conjures up with his artist’s imagination and with the help of legends and myths from the past. Majolica is the vehicle he uses to showcase resplendent dodos, resurrected from extinction; a dragon emperor and a rat clad in armour. The rodent dons a ceremonial helmet – a nod to war-waging generals throughout history. A statue of a goose references Francisco Verdugo, a 16th century Spanish military commander in the Dutch Revolt. Pepijn’s creations are detailed renderings of often tragi-comic, yet whimsical scenes grounded in the fantastic, as well as the historic.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
It’s fun and fascinating and flexible. As it’s such a long process, you have time to come up with ideas and ways to incorporate new elements into the story, adding something to the back of a piece for example.
I try to make up new stories based on those from the past. I’m rewriting the past. A retelling of history in my own unique way. By using old, traditional techniques and looking to the past as a starting point, I then create contemporary art.
Everything made is so very detailed and time-consuming and often frustrating. So much time and energy are invested in the process that it can become uncertain just how it will be received in exhibitions for example. Conceptual art tells a story.
My first trip to China in 2008 changed my life. It was my first time out of Europe. I visited Fuping, near Xian, working as an artist in residence at the Fule International Ceramic Arts Museum. It broadened my artistic horizons, and it was interesting meeting people from so many different backgrounds.
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