DUJA experimental artists group

DUJA - experimental artists group

The artist collective DUJA is an initiative of John Nieland to collaborate and exchange with artists from their own country, from other countries and from other cultures. DUJA originates from the desire to connect for the sake of art, DUJA does not want to be guided by trends, commercialism or museums, but chooses to share insights and developments. The connection offers both protection of individuality and challenge. Working together to learn from each other and step out of your own comfort zone, connection as a joint journey of independent artists. 'Destination unknown.'

ABOUT DUJA

Meet The Artists

John Nieland

Artist John Nieland paints in his own style with a strong tendency towards the abstract, inspired by art from the time of CoBrA. The colorful works are characterized by thickly applied layers of paint in which he captures emotions from the past. After a first exhibition in 1996 in Amsterdam, Nieland regularly exhibited in his home country and abroad, in which he collaborated with visual artists, composers, filmmakers and designers including Herman Brood, Karel N.L. Grazell, Eddy Zoey, Herman van Veen and Takeshi Matsunagata.

Marion Bloem

Writer, artist and film maker Marion Bloem has been more seriously involved with the visual arts since 1986. From the outset, Bloem likes to work with other artists, such as her sister Joyce Bloem, Richard Smeets, Michel van Overbeeke and Jan Montyn, because she finds the work process more interesting than the end product. Initially, Bloem mainly painted 'mixed media' on paper, later she switched to oil paint and acrylic. Bloem has regularly exhibited in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in other European cities and in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Japan.

Joost de Jonge

Joost de Jonge, is a Dutch painter whose paintings reflect a deregulated sense of space and direction, colorful and inviting introspection and wonder. He also published a number of books. In his most recent book 'Water on Water' it is all about interaction and he presents his poems based on his paintings and paintings based on poems and essays. Big names such as Mary Ann Caws, a famous American writer, art historian and literary critic, and the Belgian author Peter Franck contributed to the creative worldwide collaboration.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Koki Osawa

Born in 1992 in Nagasaki, Japan.

He spent his childhood in an environment where the influence of his grandfather, who was also a painter, remained strong. As he unravels the historicity and figurative language hidden in the paint, he uses various techniques such as tableaus, drawings, ceramics, as well as footage to ask the fundamental questions, 'what exactly are paintings and what is the act of drawing?'

Recently, Osawa presented his work in solo show “D2OKITTHJE” at IAF SHOP＊, Fukuoka, 2022, solo show “D2OKITTHJE” at PARADISE, Nagasaki, 2022, “KAAF vol2” at Joseiji Temple, Kumamoto, 2023, solo show “Who？” at EUREKA, Fukuoka, 2023, solo show “LOVE LOVE LOVE” at 063FACTORY, Nagasaki, 2023, “Family” at KABASHIMA STORE HOUSE, Nagasaki, 2023.

Oyamada Masaaki

Born in 1980 in Yamanashi, Japan. Moved to Holland in 2005. Engaged in graphic design at a brand design company in Amsterdam. As a psychologist he started making stamps as a tool to reverse negative elements such as failures and mistakes. Since then, he has been interested in the significance and essence of human existence. In 2011 he started the project "Nice to stamp you" in which he creates drawings through interviews. Since then, he has produced stamps for over 500 people of various cultural nationalities. In 2019 Oyamada moved back to Japan, Kumamoto to work on his project 'Stamp Stamp Stamp'. With the aim of safeguarding art in Kumamoto, Oyamada started KAAF in 2022, a studio for local artists.

Nishida Kayo

Born in 1998 in Kumamoto, Japan.

Graduated in 2021 from Sojo University, Department of Fine Arts, Western Painting Course.

Graduated in 2023 from Soho University, Master's Course Fine Art completed.

She now works as a high school art teacher.

Nishida uses pictorial expression centering on realistic paintings in which realism is not superficial realism, but expresses the inner side of things, constantly searching for ways to express it.

In 2023 she presented her work in a solo exhibition 'beyond' at RESTERS BED & CO. in Kumamoto.

Kenichi Shimojo

Born in 1972 in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

In 1993 Kenishi entered Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Oil Painting Major. He completed a master's course at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1999.

In that same year he went to Germany in the context of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). There he studied at the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts on a government scholarship under Magdalena Jeterova.

Currently Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Arts, Sojo University