MONIQUE VAN HAASTEREN

I have a lifelong fascination with megalithic sites. I love the mystery and unexplained about these great stones, often found in the most beautiful places. Combined with a deep love for walking the landscapes of Ireland, Scotland and  England, this slight obsession is also a great reason for travelling. When I visit these magical places, I feel connected with them; their untold stories, their past and their place in the landscape.

I believe everything (and everyone) in life is connected through invisible processes, which I try to visualize in my art. Exploring the connection between the earth, the cosmos and the great stones is the theme of my most recent work. My landscapes have different layers; visible and hidden worlds. They are mindscapes: coming from within rather as well as  from outside, they represent what I sense and can not explain.

Printmaking is magical. Printmaking to me means being open to chance, to unexpected changes and embracing them. Etching makes me feel like a modern alchemist; turning a simple metal plate into something wonderfully different. I love the contrast of the deepest, richest blacks on the bright whites of the printing paper. Using subtle colours which reflect my love for the natural world, I often combine my prints with embossing to emphasize the beauty of the paper. Etching is a labour of love, but one I’m completely in love with.

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Education

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• Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam : Printmaking and drawing 1985-1990
  (Teachers: Kees Spermon, Hans Andringa, Joop van Meel, Klaas Gubbels)

• National College of Art & Design, Dublin: Printmaking FA, 1989, 1990-1991
  (Teachers: John Kelly, Brett McEntaggart, Andrew Folan) 

• ArtEz Arnhem: BA Art Tutor 2004-2006

Awards

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• Judges Prize, BAS Art Awards Printmaking 2022

• Gill & Macmillan Prize, 2cnd Irish Miniprint Exhibition

 

Exhibitions

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I've had exhibitions since 1988, so the list is long. I'm not a fan of long lists, so here's a selection of the most recent ones plus a few highlights.​

• 22th AAmA Inetrnationoal Contemporary Art Exhibition, Piraeus, Greece 2025

• Yerevan International Print Biennale, Armenia 2025

• Grafikbörse, Borken, Germany 2025​

• ​11th International Graphic Triennal, Bitola Macedonia 2024

• Yerevan International Print Biennale, Yerevan Armenia 2023​

• Grafik Börse, Borken Germany 2023

• International Biennale of Graphic Arts, Tirana Albania 2022

• International Print Mail Art, Amsterdam

• 19th AAmA International Contemporary Art Exhibition 2022/2023

  Hangzhou China, Buenos Aires Argentina, Milan Italy

• Print International 2021/2022, Wrexham Wales

• Novene, K17 Leeuwarden 2021

• Contact in Coronatijden, Grafiekplatform, Amsterdam 2020/2021

• Kunstkerkje Velp, 2019

• Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin

• Triskel Art Centre, Cork

• Butler Gallery, Kilkenny

• Riverrun Gallery, Limerick

• Voerman Museum, Hattem

• Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden
   

Work in collections:

 

Councils of Leiden, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Dublin, Heumen, Business Art Service, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

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I'm a member of the Dutch Printmakers Guild: Grafiekplatform