Clemens Briels

Color is the medium; the story is his message. Not that Briels is committed to a particular cause. On the contrary, he transforms the carefree events of daily life into imaginative, previously unseen symbolic figures. With vivid, intense colors. And by flouting academic rules of perspective. Paper and cardboard applied to the canvas provide him with the desired depth. Sometimes it looks as if the surface has been sanded and filled. He applies layer upon layer of color without completely covering the underlying layers, thereby achieving a patina effect.

He creates his work based on antipodism. With this philosophy of opposites, which he developed himself, Briels transforms ordinary everyday events into a boldly unconventional yet pleasantly accessible visual language. The result is a colorful body of work with a clearly visible Latin American influence.

Traditional Central and South American music is a virtually inexhaustible source of inspiration. The Cuban son, mambo, merengue, and souk, topped with a slightly erotic sauce, are musical tones that compel him to create intriguing paintings.

He has proven the success of this approach, given the worldwide appreciation and respect he has earned. This comes as no surprise, as his interpretations of everyday moments are universal and thus recognizable everywhere.

He does not limit himself to painting on canvas and creating three-dimensional objects. For example, he designed dining chairs for Leolux—the Antipodes and the Kleio series. Fifty Ford Ka cars were upholstered with his fabric designs. He also creates sculptures, glassware, and tapestries.

Clemens Briels, official artist of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Traditionally, music and art festivals are organized in parallel with every Olympic event. After all, sports, art, and music are the unifying factors among all peoples. Briels was the first Dutch artist to have the honor of being selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee. His work was featured on the official Olympic poster for the 2002 Winter Games.