The Attic Series











 

In the Attic Series, Johannes Kunst translates the foundational memories of his youth into a visual manifesto of resilience. Forged in the rafters of his grandparents’ farm during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, these works redefine the attic not as a place of hiding, but as a sovereign kingdom of the mind.

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• Biomorphic Symbiosis: Kunst uses fluid, entangled organic shapes to represent his family huddled together. These forms symbolize both the forced physical closeness of the occupation and the deep, psychological ties of their shared survival.

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• The Architecture of Freedom: Using sharp, graphic linework, Kunst evokes the claustrophobia of confinement. However, he ruptures this tension with a vibrant, whimsical palette, illustrating how the imagination serves as a limitless sanctuary that no external darkness can occupy.

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• Emotional Abstraction: Moving beyond literal representation, the series captures "expressively recaptured memories." Much like a visual counterpart to The Diary of Anne Frank, these paintings prioritize emotional reality, oscillating between the terrifying "click-clack" of the outside world and the hopeful internal world of "forgotten things."

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• Dual Landscapes: The attic is presented as a paradox—both a prison of isolation and a sacred territory for creation. Through this duality, Kunst proves that even within the most restrictive boundaries, the human spirit remains an unconquerable territory of color and form.