Organic shape by Antoine Froideville

Antoine Monod de Froideville designed the Organic shape, which Painture Collective painted, along with other walls showcasing designs from artists in Herenplaats. It is located at Korte Bajonetstraat but still very close to West-Kruiskade. This is a typical Froideville composition with abstract shapes, using mainly different types of lines to create the main form. The curvy and straight lines create interesting shapes that accentuate each other, varying their thickness and having circles around them. The lines are painted in yellow, white, and blue, while the background is a reddish-brown color with a pattern in light grey. That background pattern consists of straight lines that intersect each other, forming triangles. The original painting has a dark grey, almost black, background.

Although Antoine Froideville is the creative mind behind the artwork, the Rotterdam Street Art Museum named it Organic Shape after he finished painting it on the wall. The artist marks the original work as Untitled.

About the artist:  

Antoine’s style often incorporates intricate patterns that evolve over time, influenced by his current state of mind. He finds satisfaction in exploring the interplay between opposites, blending straight and curved lines to highlight their differences. His patterns typically emerge spontaneously and unpremeditatedly, with the design taking shape as he begins to draw. Another key point is the employment of a colorful palette infused with yellow, golden, and white highlights, which usually stand out in the overall composition. 

The Islamic religion profoundly influenced his early art productions. While this religious influence has diminished over time, he now draws inspiration from Buddhist principles. This led to a shift in his aesthetic creations. Now, Antoine Froideville paints in a different way than in previous works, such as the Organic shape. He is one of the few artists in Herenplaats who has a formal academic education. He finished his bachelor’s in 3D sculpture at William De Kooning in 2001.

About Outsider Art and Galerie Atelier Herenplaats:

Outsider Art, also known as Arte Brute, emerges from individuals who break away from the rules of art academies and often create without social constraints. This art form typically showcases an unpolished and raw appearance. It comes directly from the inner self of the artist, without passing through a “filter” of quality and conceptualization. Usually results in a very individual style that doesn’t fit the traditional art standards. A few examples of outsider art are people who belong to culturally isolated groups, such as psychiatric patients, but also children, prisoners, or homeless people. In the case of Herenplaats, they dedicate their formation to people with intellectual disability or psychiatric backgrounds. The atelier adapts to their needs, where employees are trained in art, teaching and social work.