Zelfportret 2000 nr. 113 2000

Here is a self-portrait made by Philip Akkerman in 2000 using ink on paper. I can only imagine the controlled chaos that went into making this. The artist’s hand is visible in every mark, every line seems to be mapping the territory of the face. The fine parallel lines create a sense of depth and volume, like a topographical map of the artist's own visage. I wonder what Akkerman was thinking as he made this work. Was it an act of self-discovery, of confronting one's own mortality, or was it a playful exploration of identity? This piece reminds me of the work of other artists who have used self-portraiture as a means of exploring their own psyche, like Van Gogh or Frida Kahlo. Artists are always responding to one another, in this ever continuing conversation. Ultimately, painting is an act of embracing ambiguity and uncertainty. The beauty of art lies in its ability to allow for multiple interpretations.