I am Daniel, and I’m a Dutch artist based in Malaysia, creating unique hand-made, hand-pulled prints inspired by traditional architecture.
My work grew from a simple question: what makes a place feel like home? For me? Difficult question. It used to be at my parents, the place I could be having my feet on the coffee table zoning out without having to worry about a thing. That place is long gone, but the memory isn’t.
I want to create art as a place where we can connect with home. It is meant to go back to after a day in our hectic so-called modern life in which stress, traffic, and the urge to perform dominate. Art gives me a place to slow down and wander away to worlds I want to be. I also used to be trapped in such a life as a school Principal here in Malaysia, while I also am a father of two boys. I almost lost the connection with my children as I was occupied with other people’s kids. I learned to value what I think is important and show that through my art. I am interested in exploring houses people built to live in—shaped by generations of local knowledge, craftsmanship and an understanding of their environment. Nowadays traditions and what people value change to the good and bad. It does sadden me that houses many generations called home disappear. In a world where people moved on traditional houses fade but in my work they stay.
What also stays, through my work, is a sense of belonging, a connection to place, craftsmanship, community and the feeling of being rooted. In this changing society I am advocating to keep society together through human interaction and connection between us humans. I believe it is important that we stay true to ourselves and our imperfections instead of hiding behind technology to make us look better than we actually are. All of that takes time. It also takes time to create art. I will have to slow down and make conscious choices on what I choose to include in a print or leave out.
Our choices in society also revolves what we include, leave behind or preserve.
Let us make the right choice and connect with what we are standing for.
Daniel Arendzen