Justus Donker (XX) - Bones Beneath the Noise

Original work by Justus Donker
Mixed media on thick paper
Hand-signed on the front.
A powerful and expressive piece by artist Justus Donker, in which figuration and abstraction meet in an intense way. At the center is a skeletal figure, built from energetic lines, rough brushstrokes, and explosive color fields in yellows, blues, blacks, whites, and reds.
What is special about this work is that it emerged over an existing piece by Fred van der Wal, creating an extra layer of depth and artistic dialogue. The underlying presence deepens the sense of tension, history, and transformation within the composition.
The work exudes a strong neo-expressionist energy and evokes associations with the raw visual language of Jean‑Michel Basquiat, without losing its own identity. The spontaneous composition, layered structures, and instinctive painting method give the work a direct emotional power.
The combination of chaos and control creates an intriguing tension field in which new details continually become visible. The painting feels at once vulnerable, aggressive, and lively—a work that is not only to be looked at but truly experienced.
An impressive contemporary artwork with a strong visual impact, particularly suited for lovers of urban contemporary, neo-expressionism, and raw modern art.

Donker became known in the early nineties as a member of the group After Nature, of which he was part from 1989 until its dissolution in 1995. Other members of the group included Peter Klashorst, Jurriaan van Hall, Bart Domburg, and Ernst Voss. The first exhibition of After Nature with Donker took place in 1990 at Seasons Galerie in The Hague. In the following years, the members of this group visited the United States several times to participate in exhibitions and painting performances.
With his painting brothers Gijs Donker (1964) and Aad Donker (1967-1998), who were also members of After Nature, he became known as one of “the Donker brothers.” After the death of his brother Aad, Donker stopped painting for several years and moved to Wehe-den Hoorn in the province of Groningen. In 2009 he moved back to Leiden, where he grew up.