He is almost 71 years old and next February there will be another large solo exhibition at Galerie Kralingen. Louis Looijschelder: as a SKAR tenant of the first hour he remains productive, but above all optimistic: 'I have agreed with my internist that I will be at least 80.
After esophageal cancer it is not always physically easy, but the pace of life is still high. Louis Looijschelder, a SKAR tenant since 1968, still works every day in his studio on the Nesserdijk. Obviously he became an artist, wasn't it? His father was on the inland waterways and was not to blame for his son's studies. The TV personality known at the time and also rector of the art school Pierre Jansen managed to convince his father that his son had talent and that it was a subsidy, not a debt. And so he was allowed to go to the academy.
His theme: the sea
His father's sea has always played a major role in his work, there are also clear pop-art influences from the America that became so important when he was young. In recent years my work has become more poetic, more internalized. Where I used to want to kick and moralize, what belongs to youth, I now look for beauty. That simply comes with the years.'
New exhibition
Transitoriness, the theme of his upcoming exhibition, fits in with this journey inside and with his phase of life. From 25 February to the end of March his exhibition will take place in Galerie Kralingen. There will be some 40 to 50 works on display, mainly recent works. He still has a few paintings to make, he says. Some days he looks forward to the exhibition, others he looks forward to it. It's worst when there's no response to an exhibition. While "weaker" works are also important. They are part of a search and necessary to find something. But this time my head feeling is positive.'
Cultural climate
Although his paintings travelled the world, Louis Looijschelder has always worked and lived in Rotterdam. The cultural climate in Rotterdam has become much better than when I started. At the time there were perhaps two places where art was exhibited. Now there are many more places and the city also attracts more creative people'. According to Louis, Rotterdam has always been a friendly city, accessible to artists from elsewhere, but at the same time there were the hard edges of dockwork. In the city he made a number of large murals, the largest of some 125 square metres on the Oude Binnenweg. In the meantime the paintings have been removed again. He is sober underneath. "Well, that's how these things go, I enjoyed making them.
Advice to young people
When asked what the difference is between his generation and the young person, he answers: 'The young people are more enterprising, they multitask a lot more. But the intention remains the same. It's all about the creative process'. He finds giving advice to younger generations somewhat presumptuous, because who is he to say that, but still: 'Go on rowing and glazing. Do what you want. In your life, you're going to get on your maw several times anyway. Then you'd better have done it yourself than it's because of somebody else.