Red Cloud
Confrontation in the Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park on the
Kaipara Harbour.
Being known by the public for his
outlandish but highly geometric sculptures, Leon’s
paintings are also widely held in private
collections.
When Covid stopped the plans in their
tracks to organise a 2020 retrospective of his life’s work
and development as an artist, a new date was set for 24
April 2021. The exhibition opening would be a stylish,
colourful and integral part of the start of Dutch Week, at
the Big Dutch Day Out in Foxton.
The opening of “A
Colourful Nation – Kleur Bekennen” went ahead, but
Red Cloud Confrontation in the Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park on the Kaipara Harbour.
Being known by the public for his outlandish but highly geometric sculptures, Leon’s paintings are also widely held in private collections.
When Covid stopped the plans in their tracks to organise a 2020 retrospective of his life’s work and development as an artist, a new date was set for 24 April 2021. The exhibition opening would be a stylish, colourful and integral part of the start of Dutch Week, at the Big Dutch Day Out in Foxton.
The opening of “A Colourful Nation – Kleur Bekennen” went ahead, but without Leon there in person. He had died 10 days earlier, after a heart attack.
Notable works included the The Smiling Windmills at Avalon Park in Lower Hutt, and T
he Geometric Totem Pole at the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail in Auckland. Van der Boon said the exhibition showed the progression of a disciplined Dutch way of working to absorbing New Zealand culture and loosening up to take influence from the landscape. “The two parts of him influenced each other.” Van den Eijkel was born in The Netherlands in 1940 and studied at The Hague Royal Academy of Art from 1958 to 1963. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1986. He was known for his use of bright colours, and came up with the concept for a new colour palette by watching the sunset in Wellington and recreating the colours in a book.
Press Release – Dutch Connection
Waves across Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom – a Multicultural Facility
The Dutch community will celebrate ‘all things Dutch’ – all over the country – during the first ever ‘Dutch Week’, from Saturday 24 April to Sunday 2 May. The aim is to highlight and celebrate the culture, language, arts, food and heritage of the Dutch immigrant diaspora – now an integral part of the diverse fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Dutch Week will be officially launched by Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, together with Ambassador Mira Woldberg on Saturday in the heritage town of Foxton.
In a symbolic act, Priyanca and Mira will ‘unveil’ a spectacular, colourful 40m Art Mural – designed by Amsterdam artist Jan van der Ploeg.
Press Release – Dutch Connection Waves across Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom – a Multicultural Facility Dutch culture and language celebrated nationwide The Dutch community will celebrate all things Dutch all over the country during the first ever Dutch Week, from Saturday …
Waves across Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom – a Multicultural Facility
Dutch culture and language celebrated nationwide
The Dutch community will celebrate ‘all things Dutch’ – all over the country – during the first ever ‘Dutch Week’, from Saturday 24 April to Sunday 2 May.
The aim of a week of activities, is to highlight and celebrate the culture, language, arts, food and heritage of the Dutch immigrant diaspora – now an integral part of the diverse fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand.