The Power of Culture

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My work is not separated from my life’, says visual artist Inti Hernandez. ‘In my art I try to find answers to issues that I want to solve in life. When I first came to the Netherlands, I was overwhelmed by the possibilities here. What struck me was the fact that given all these opportunities, people did not appear to be particularly happy. Whenever I speak to Dutch people about this, they often say they realise that they are spoiled. Having lived here a bit longer, it strikes me that this idea of living in spoiled circumstances is a normal idea that many Dutch people have. I think that they are blinded by this idea. The situation here is not easy but actually very challenging, particularly because people are spoilt for choice.’

‘In Cuba the problems are right in front of you. It immediately becomes clear that life is a challenge. What I learnt from that is that whatever I choose to do is fine as long as I believe in it. To become happy and to be alive is to keep yourself going. In the Netherlands, people are much more focused on results, on goals they want to reach.’

‘These days, many people complain about their lives or about the Dutch situation. Perhaps they do not realise what real freedom is. Where freedom begins, compromise starts. If you are completely free there is nobody else you can blame for your own failures and incapacity to lead your life. ’

‘These issues I encounter here play a major role in the works of art that I make. My work is often about the miracles of life and about the fact that life is directly in front of you. One idea I had was to draw a sun in the dirt on the glass roof of Amsterdam Central Station. Thousands of people are waiting for the train every day, looking at the dark, dirty glass ceiling. I wanted to use this dirt as material for the sun, which would then shine through an image of itself. The roof has recently been cleaned so the concept cannot become reality. However, I see this as a gift from reality: it made my work unnecessary.’

‘As a resident artist at the Rijksakademie I hope to be able to explore these issues further with people from other backgrounds: scientists, philosophers, technicians, and others. I believe that the Rijksakademie will provide the necessary institutional framework which justifies my work, making me a trustworthy partner. It is not enough here to believe in yourself’.