Diederick Kraaijeveld

Plus One Gallery is pleased to present Diederick Kraaijeveld's second solo show. What started as a hobby, collecting memorabilia which he would then turn into colorful collages, progressed into a passion to equal another, that of vintage cars. In 2005, merging these two passions, Diederick set about the task of recreating his beloved 1966 Mustang, immortalizing it to become his first ever piece for 'Oudhout' (literally: Old Wood). 

Working predominantly from photographs, each piece is hand carved and assembled using reclaimed, genuine coloured wood that Diederick scavenges himself during daytrips around his native Holland and travels around the world. He gets tipped frequently when centuries old floors (his favorite material because of the history and the natural patina of ages) are torn out of buildings all over The Netherlands. Painted wooded planks, flooring from old mansions and rural farmhouses have all found a place in his work. Often the material comes first and then, sometime much later, it's place in a work. For the First Class stamp Diederick used wood from a 17th century Dutch house that he salvaged two years prior. For the Second Class stamp, wood from an old fence collected from a dumpster in his hometown of Hilversum. When asked if there is a favorite wood he is drawn to, Diederick is quick to point out that colour is the leading factor when sourcing material. A single work can consist of over a hundred different pieces of colour, and therefore over a hundred different pieces of wood, giving his sculptures its unique perspective and irregular surface. By not altering or treating the wood, Diederick incorporates the history of the material, adding depth to his work. 

Popular culture is the leading inspiration behinds Diederick's work as well as a touch of the ironic. In creating items that actually have a monetary value, such as a stamp or a hundred dollar bill, work is being created that has a set value yet is made solely from material deemed worthless. As he explains, 'A hundred dollar bill stands for a lot of money for a lot for people. But this bill is built out of materials that people have thrown away because they deemed it worthless, valueless. I like the irony of that' 

It is Diederick's goal to create beautiful and desirable icons out of materials that people have discarded. His work has been exhibited all over the world: Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland, USA, Russia and Dubai. In 2010 he was the recipient of the ARTAQ sculpture award in Angers, France. Diederick Kraaijeveld lives and works in Holland.