Between the Lines

by Arjen Roos

Two zebras, each with their own character and yet unmistakably connected. In *Tussen de Strepen*, the zebra on the left looks straight at me – and thus at the viewer – whilst the second zebra focuses its attention entirely on its companion. To me, these different gazes tell the story of this colourful animal portrait: a moment of closeness, attention and connection.

I have moved away from the zebras’ characteristic black-and-white markings and replaced them with a rhythm of red, orange, yellow, turquoise, blue and purple. The two animals have deliberately not been rendered in exactly the same way. The zebra on the left is constructed in a more graphic and geometric manner, whilst the one on the right has a somewhat more organic character. It is precisely this difference that gives both animals their own distinct personalities.

Towards the bottom, the painted forms become increasingly less defined. Brushstrokes grow drier, pigment fades, and parts of the zebras seem to slowly dissolve into the background. Behind this lies a tranquil pattern of transparent, earthy patches of colour that contrasts with the saturated colours of the animals.

For me, *Between the Stripes* is therefore not only a colourful abstract portrait of a zebra, but above all a work about observation, attention and the silent bond between two individuals.