Gijs Frieling: That very night in Max’s room a forest grew…

Don’t be misled by the sweet pictures in pretty colours, for we’re dealing with a radical artist here. This anarchist in angel’s clothing contravenes a number of contemporary art’s unwritten laws. Gijs Frieling is a standard-bearer for ornament and decoration and he embraces exuberance. His representations are not minimal but maximal, as full as can be, and there’s always room for an extra flower.

This book contains 10 visual essays photographed by Johannes Schwartz and conversations with the patrons of commissioned murals in private collections by Hanne Hagenaars: The patrons who speak in this book are the brave among art buyers: their walls bear a mural by Gijs Frieling, and that’s not something you can put away, or put into storage, turn to face the wall or sell. Painting over it is a possibility but if you have finally decided to enter into this commitment, moving house seems like a more realistic way of escaping from the work than a white coat of paint on top of it.

But not a single owner spoken to is tired of the artwork; on the contrary. It seems that the whole ritual of deciding, discussing and allowing the artist into your house changes your position as a buyer: the patron is no longer a consumer but an accomplice.