From: Gust Romijn explorer (ontdekkingsreiziger) 2013 by Eva van Berne

The life and work of Gust Romijn. Passion for every period

‘They said that I jumped from one subject to another. Said that you must have a “trademark “ as an artist, you had to see who the maker was. I always laughed loudly about that. They didn’t always know how to deal with me or place me, shocked at every exhibition. Each time it was a blow and that wasn’t often dealt out here. But I was never afraid. Variability is part of me. I personally think I have a very changeable nature. I’m a little bit of enormous this and enormous that, mountains and valleys. Always was. Rather difficult for your environment I think.’

Gust Romijn is an artist continuously inspired by life itself, art and his surroundings. During an active period of more than sixty years he always engrossed himself in his own way in current art trends. If he is thereby grabbed by new styles or subjects these get his full attention and the previous ones are left behind. The criticism that often befalls him regarding his sometimes erratic style development in his oeuvre doesn’t bother him. He speaks , among other things, of his lyrical, wild and thoughtful years in which time and again he internalized new forms of expression and techniques. Investigations in space and on the flat surface, sometimes figurative but mostly abstract, whereby alternating organic and taut forms predominate. Within these extended periods he always works on what he terms ‘items’, series of drawings, graphic work, paintings or sculptures in which a specific topic is worked out. In a period ranging from a few weeks to months he is immersed in a particular stylistic or substantive theme and only stops when he has completely mastered it. After such an intensive work period he distances himself from his work and studio. However it never lasts long before he goes to work again with a new series, completely different or yet again reverting back to the preceding works.

Regardless of the view that critics of his work have, appreciation is often expressed for his diligence and decisiveness. Romijn is a getter type ‘don’t talk but do’. This applies not only for his own artwork but also for the numerous commissions he realizes, his teaching positions and his work as designer for international festivals. Romijn’s oeuvre is not only versatile but also very extensive. His work and personality color the Rotterdam art world in the years forty, fifty, sixty and seventy. Then he settles in Zeeland. His life and work show his character, his humor, his penchant for large and lots, always new forms of expression, sometimes thoughtful but often vehement. He compares his work as an artist with that of an explorer, someone who is always looking for new impressions. There are periods in which he actually travels a lot. But he also makes discoveries in his vicinity and in his extensive collection of books on art and culture.

This publication describes the personal story of an artist’s life, the various aspects of the work of Romijn and the context in which it came into being. Also the manner in which he gave form and shape in his teaching positions and activities for Poetry International and Film International Rotterdam are discussed. The biographical texts are based on the stories of Gust and the memories of Marianne Kleijwegt, with whom he lived from 1982, written in 2011. These texts are supplemented with information from his extensive archive, interviews and secondary sources. From different periods of his oeuvre works are highlighted, which provide an overview of the variety of styles and techniques Romijn applied en route in his exploration trip through art and in art.