Jan Henderikse

Jan Henderikse (1937) is a key figure in the Dutch branch of the international ZERO movement, known as NUL, alongside artists like Henk Peeters, Armando, and Jan Schoonhoven.

Jan Henderikse's Art Style

In 1960, Jan Henderikse made his mark in Düsseldorf by signing the Oberkasseler Brücke, signaling a significant artistic shift in his life. Having left the Netherlands and his native city of Delft the year before, he also permanently abandoned painting.

Düsseldorf was brimming with exciting developments, as the ZERO group, founded by Heinz Mack and Otto Piene, was gaining momentum. This period saw parallel movements across Europe: ZERO in Germany, NUL in the Netherlands, AZIMUTH in Italy, and NOUVEAU RÉALISME in France. These groups shared similar philosophies and objectives, maintaining friendly connections. They collectively rejected traditional painting and color, favoring monochrome works, preferably in white. Key characteristics of these movements included seriality—mass-production-style creation of art—and repetition of patterns.

For Henderikse, art is more about concept than object. He begins with pre-existing items that were not originally intended as art—such as corks, license plates, coins, and various odds and ends—and assembles them into reliefs. Known for his use of 'ready-mades,' Henderikse embraces the challenge of creating art by repurposing objects rather than crafting them from scratch. Ultimately, for Jan Henderikse, art is more about the idea than the physical object itself.