12 Flemish Proverbs

I have on several occasions made paintings, or groups of paintings, as a way of looking at other artists’ work that has significant importance to me. 12 Flemish Proverbs are consequently such a ‘conversation’. Based on 12 paintings by Brueghel, in Antwerp.

The set were conceived of as one work, and sold as a group. They were exhibited in 2014 at the Pera Museum, İstanbul. (SC)

12 Flemish Proverbs (Wall Ladder), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Crygel ben ick en van sinnen stuer dus loop ick met den hoofed tegen den muer (I am irascible and of sullen humour in consequence I run and knock my head against a wall)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Fire/Water), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> In deen hant draghe vier in dander waeter met clappaers en clappeyen houd ick den snaeter (In one hand I carry fire, in the other I carry water with chatterboxes and gossips I keep my mouth shut)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Cat/Bell), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> ‘t Harnasch maeckt my een stouten haen ick hanghe de kat de belle aen (With a breast plate I am an intrepid cock I put the bell on the cat)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Piss), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Wat ick vervolghe en geraecke daer niet aen ick pisse altyt tegen de maen (No matter what I pursue I never reach it I always piss against the moon)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Fat Man), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Int slampampenen mocht my niemant verraschen al quyt, sit ick tusschen twee stoelen in dasschen (In the old days no one could surpass me in gluttony. Having lost everything, I am left sitting between two stools in the ashes)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Cape), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Een placebo be nick ende also gesint dat ick de huyck alom hanch naeden wint (I am a placebo and of such disposition that I am forever tossing my cape in the wind (placebo:flatterer))
12 Flemish Proverbs (Pigs/Roses), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Die lust heft te doen verlore wercken die stroyt die rosen voor de vercken (He who feels impelled to engage in useless work strews the ground with roses before pigs)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Fan), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Myns naesten welderen myn herte pynt ick en mach niet lyden dat de sonne int waeter schynt (My neighbour’s luxury pierces my heart I cannot endure the sun shining in the water)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Blue Cape), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Ick stoppe my onder een blau huycke meer worde ick bekent hoe ick meer duycke (I hide myself under a blue cape the more I disguise myself the more readily I am recognized)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Hole), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection Wat baet het sien en derelyck loncken ick stop den put als tcalf is verdroncken (What is the use of sadly looking and considering I fill the well when the calf is drowned)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Drunk), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> Ontydich tuysschen en droncken drincken maeckt arm misacht den name doet stinken (To play dice at the wrong time, to keep on drinking when he is drunk, impoverishes, dishonours a man’s name and makes him stink)
12 Flemish Proverbs (Net/Boat), 39 x 49 cm, Oil on Panel, 2014, Private Collection <br /> My compt het mager, den andere het vet ick vische altyt achter het net (I get the lean, the other the fat I always fish behind the net)