Miko Veldkamp

Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, USA

Artist statement

Veldkamp's work investigates deeper colonial relations between north and south, east and west. His psycho-cultural dream world combines memories of his past and present homes in Surinam, The Netherlands and NYC, Western Art History, Javanese-Surinamese ghost stories, and shape shifting pseudo self portraits. Through bodies of water, mirrors, windows and shadows, Veldkamp creates portals into different cultural spheres where figures dissolve in their environments and memory, dream, past and future interchange. Carefully considering how elements are divided and connected, he simultaneously achieves a studied complexity and playful lightheartedness. Veldkamp invents the painting directly on the canvas, making no studies or preparatory drawings, adding to a sense of the painting unfolding to the viewer. In a deeply personal way it subverts pervasive stereotypes and notions of authenticity, and speaks to urban landscapes and overcoming struggles of belonging.

Artwork