In the lead-up to Art Cologne, Contradictions in Similarity explores the visual connections between the works of renowed Dutch post-war artist Gerard Verdijk (1934–2005) and Australian First Nations artists.
Verdijk is celebrated for his abstract works that emphasize balance and meditative spaces, influenced by his exposure to Japanese philosophy in the early 90s. This online exhibition highlights visual parallels between Verdijk’s serene, minimalist works and Indigenous Australian art. Aboriginal artists like Rover Thomas and Paddy Bedford, who paint abstract expressions of ancestral creation stories, developed their style independently from Western traditions. Despite vast cultural differences, Verdijk’s paintings share a striking resemblance with these Indigenous works, illustrating art’s universal language and mystical connection across diverse cultures and eras.
