In his paintings and sculptures Kaspar Dejong (1995) confronts the viewer with a transformed version of reality. Dejong re-uses images from daily life and deconstructs these objects and images in such a way that their signals lose meaning. As a spectator you are confronted with an image, that at first glance seems to be familiar but is not. 

The work of Kaspar Dejong is in line with the semiotic tradition exploring and studying signs and symbols as a significant part of communications. By taking everyday signs out of their initial context and presenting them on the canvas, Dejong questions their message. White monochromes are partly disrupted by colored dots, numbers and letters float between unsteady shapes and forms seem to have been erased unsuccessfully.  With spray-paint, graphite, oil and acrylic paint he often uses letters or numbers to start off his compositions. On the often raw background of the canvas he suppresses, scratches and erases them and so creates with his scribbles, color areas and scratches an abstract new unknown language that confronts and confuses the viewer.

In his work Dejong refers partly to the imaginary order of the Israelian philosopher and writer Yuval Noah Harari: human beings are able to rule the world because we can create an imaginary world by inventing stories that we believe are true, but in reality, are fictional. Kaspar Dejong takes an interest in what we communicate in this imaginary order that seems so obviously real to everyone. He changes the meaning of signs and signals that are commonly understood and by doing so alienates us from their context and meaning. With his intriguing sculptures and paintings he creates a new and puzzling universe.   

Kaspar Dejong (Maastricht, 1995) lives and works in Amsterdam. His work is represented by Josilda da Conceicao gallery in Amsterdam. He graduated from the  Willem De Kooning academy in 2017 and exhibited his graduation project ‘Traffic Gaze’ at the DSM office in Sittard.  In 2018 he was a resident in Vienna and Barcelona. His work is represented in the Dutch company art collections of DSM, Nationale Nederlanden(NN), Maastricht UMC+ and private ones. Recently his works was exhibited at Art Rotterdam. 

Kaspar Dejong, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 01-06-1995
Lives and works in Amsterdam

kaspar.dejong@hotmail.com

2014-2017 Willem de Kooning academy, Rotterdam
2015-2016 Escola Massana, Grau Universitari en Arts i Disseny, Barcelona Spanje

28 juni Open studios ISO

06 juli Cwartaal Knokke Heist

2019 Dapiran, Amsterdam

2019 Rotterdam Art, Rotterdam

2018 This Artfair, Amsterdam

2018 Gwidettis world, ISo Amsterdam

2018 Traffic gaze, DSM, kunstcollectie. Sittard

2018 Bong a long, ISO open studios, Amsterdam

2018 7Eleven, Showroom Mono, Rotterdam

2018 M:OED, Maastricht

2017 LIL, Brickfive Gallery, Vienna

2017 Animals of adult sobriety, Slash gallery, Rotterdam

2017 Untitled, Stay up late, Rotterdam

2017 Graduation show Willem de Kooning academy, Rotterdam

2017 Unknown, Studio Pit, Rotterdam

2016 Souvenirs, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona

2016 Synthesis for survival, Gallery The floor, Barcelona

2016 Quatro Matao$$ y Dos $ubnormales, Cera 13, Barcelona

2016 Stateless democracy, BAK Utrecht

2016 (untitled), Kunstuitleen, Rotterdam

2015 (untitled), Showroom RR, Rotterdam

2015 Rooms, Hairmitage, Rotterdam

2012 Performative painting, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht.

2017 Ligist residency, Oostenrijk

2017 Brickfive, Wenen, Oostenrijk

2019 Galleryviewer, Kunstkijken

2019 Lost painters

2019 Sum shots magazine

2018 DSM traffic gaze

2018 INDIE magazine

2017 Tijdschrift het ei, #53 Uitstellen

2017 Creators Vice, Graduates 2017

2017 Mister Motley, WDKA 2017

2016 Souvenirs, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vcGhyqLPQo

2016 M4KING M0N3Y IN THE TRA$HYARD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66VB4E5cevI

Nationale Nederlanden, DSM Kunstcollectie, MUMC Maastricht, Newspaper de Limburger, and several private collections.

https://galleryviewer.com/en/gallery/57/josilda-da-conceicao-gallery/artists/716/kaspar-dejong