The Dutch artist Raymond Lemstra started fully focusing on drawing at the end of 2010. Ever since he has developed a unique recognizable style, referring to the illustrative nature of primitive drawing and sculpture. Since his main interest lies in distortion and the process of facial recognition -parts of interest are emphasized, unimportant parts reduced or left out- he tends to use geometrical shapes to investigate the essence of form.

His characters are often big headed, with a strong focus on the face while the body is trimmed to its essential properties. This contrast evokes a clash of intent, simultaneously assuming simplicity and complexity, randomness and reason, flaws and perfection.

Lemstra explains: “I deliberately apply this primitive logic as a method. But I don’t apply it equally to all aspects of my work. Instead, I choose to use a very mature, highly laboursome technique for the execution of my work. This contrast, between the naive and sophisticated, gives the work a somewhat awkward taste. The purpose of which is to inspire a sense of joy and discovery.”

It is especially that sense of inspiring discovery and joy that drives Lemstra to create the way he does: “In childhood, one encounters and experiences many things for the first time. Through curiosity and imagination, these moments are lifted to almost magical heights. As you get older, new impressions become more scarce and it’s a rare experience to be surprised by anything. I try to bring back the sense of wonder we remember from being a child, bridging the young and mature, by creating a contained fantasy world populated by my characters.”

Last year Lemstra exhibited his characters at Pictoplasma in Berlin and got so much positive feedback that he was invited to go on tour with them. Beginning of November he will speak and exhibit at Pictoplasma NYC amongst Tim Biskup, Joshua Ben Longo, Joel Trussell, Mark Jenkins, Geneviève Gauckler, Jeremyville, Allyson Mellberg Taylor, BeatBots, Jon Burgerman and Gary Taxali.

Pictoplasma is the world’s leading and largest celebration of contemporary character culture. In NYC Pictoplasma will return with a dense, extended weekend of inspiring artist presentations, conference lectures, animation screenings, character walk exhibitions, performances, all-night parties, and of course: loads of character.

visit the websites:
Raymond Lemstra
Pictoplasma