Rob van Leeuwen creates his Primal Landscapes from a deep connection with the earth. He has left traditional artists’ materials such as paint, brushes and canvases behind and replaced them with natural matter such as sand, lime, clay and whatever the earth gives him.

The rock cycle is the inspiration for the works on display. Seemingly untouchable mountains crumble into sand, clay, lime or sediment to be dispersed by rivers and eventually land at the bottom of the ocean, continuing through the interior of the earth to eventually reappear as a mountain after about 250 million years.

The origin of the Primal Landscapes is an organically growing process that starts with (sustainable) plasterboards. Lime plays a central role in the works, a material that has a strong symbolic value for Rob. The lime is extracted from the mountain with a lot of violence. Next it is burned and purified. Thereafter it has to stay submerged in water to stay soft until the moment of use. However, the moment the lime is exposed to air it will start to absorb CO2 and will begin to return to its natural state, stone. A process that cannot take place often enough in these days.

1974 – 1979 MTS aircraft-engineering in The Hague
1979 – 1993 Active as aircraft ground-engineer at KLM.Royal Dutch Airline
From 2000 Active as visual artist ( autodidact ).

2022
Art Amsterdam
ART[s] Gallery Simone Jansen

2021
September Art retreat Cill Railaig in Ireland
The new world. Group exhibition in Noordwijk.

2020
The Greenhouse effect in Noordwijk. Experimental workperiod.

2019
Art Amsterdam

2018:
Art Amsterdam
Gallery 9 in Amsterdam. Duo exhibition.

2017:
Spring exhibition in gallery 9 in Amsterdam.
Art Amsterdam

2016
“Blue longing”, pop-up exhibition, lecture and debat in Amsterdam
Summer exhibition in gallery 9.

2015
Ex Church San Nicolao in Bellano (I), Group exhibition

2014
“Tempi Moderni” La Casa di Vetro di Via Luisa San Felice – Milaan

2013
Gallery Wies Willemsen in Amsterdam. Duo exhibition
Zeeuwse Kunstschouw. Event

2012
Arthouse The Bakery in Bergen a/d Maas. “Stranded in Noord – Limburg”. Duo – exhibition

2011
“Pandora” in The Red count’s garden. Milan ( It ). Group exhibition.
“From water born soul” Villa Tittoni Traversi, Monza ( It ) Group ex.

2010
 “From water born soul”. Group exhibition in Baveno ( It )
Art moment in Diepenheim. Event.

2009
Camaver Kunsthaus Acquasparta( It ). Group exhibition

2008
Arthouse The Bakery in Bergen aan de Maas. Group exhibition..
Meditation room, UMC Utrecht. Solo exhibition..

2007
Arthouse The Bakery in Bergen aan de Maas. Duo exhibition