Biography of Jos van der Sommen

In the fragmentary, colourful worlds of Jos van der Sommen walk different storylines together. The painter, born in 1961 in Eindhoven, shows the scenes recognizable and at the same time alienating. The question is: what is reality and what is fiction?

During his studies at the Art Academy in Eindhoven, Van der Sommen admired the paintings of the French painter Francis Picabia. Especially his ability to different styles and combine with each other or Exchange, spoke to him. In addition to the surreal depictions of Picabia, inspired the surrealist painter Max Ernst, and the absurdist films of Luis Bunuel him. Van der Sommen does of the incongruous world of surrealism. Images in which something unexpected happens to intrigue him.

The artist uses for his creations often photographs he reminds or homemade are of places and situations that fascinate him. By details and surreal elements, he transforms the pics to fictional events, a new world.

At the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, the Museum Waterland in Purmerend and the Museum Tongerlohuys in Roosendaal has exhibited his work Van der Sommen. His art is included in the collections of companies, institutions and museums, such as the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam the Noordbrabants Museum in's-Hertogenbosch.