Nic Jonk
Birth Date
1928
Birthplace
Langedijk, Holland
Death Date
1994
Biographical Text
Nic Jonk was born in 1928 in the West-Frisian town of Langedijk, North Holland.
From 1945-1953 he attended evening classes at Amsterdam's School of Applied Arts, working under highly-respected sculptor Wessel Couzijn. Jonk studied drawing and sculpting with him, admiring Couzijn's Expressionist style. Other influences were French artists Renoir, Bourdelle, Henri Laurens (known for his large Cubist figures and nudes) and Aristide Maillol (whose work was concerned with monumental classical forms of the female figure).
From 1950-1954 Jonk attended State Normal School (teachers' college), and taught sculpture under the guidance of Dutch sculptor Piet Esser until 1956. In 1965 Jonk and his family moved to the small village of Grootschermer in North Holland, where he established his studio, museum and sculpture garden, displaying 30 giant bronze sculptures and the large collection of his paintings.
Jonk was inspired by myths, Bible stories and great themes such as love, peace, and fertility. He is best-known for his voluptuous sculptures of mythological scenes, women, and animals. He also created many paintings, graphic works, ceramics, glass objects, and jewellery. Earth, sun, water, whales, the Woman and the Mother were all important recurring elements in his abstract, organic work. He revisited the themes of Jonah and the Whale eight times in his sculptures. He said of his work "When people understand my sculptures, they feel the soul I've put inside them".
Many of Jonk's larger sculptures appear as public artworks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US.
Jonk died in 1994.
From 1945-1953 he attended evening classes at Amsterdam's School of Applied Arts, working under highly-respected sculptor Wessel Couzijn. Jonk studied drawing and sculpting with him, admiring Couzijn's Expressionist style. Other influences were French artists Renoir, Bourdelle, Henri Laurens (known for his large Cubist figures and nudes) and Aristide Maillol (whose work was concerned with monumental classical forms of the female figure).
From 1950-1954 Jonk attended State Normal School (teachers' college), and taught sculpture under the guidance of Dutch sculptor Piet Esser until 1956. In 1965 Jonk and his family moved to the small village of Grootschermer in North Holland, where he established his studio, museum and sculpture garden, displaying 30 giant bronze sculptures and the large collection of his paintings.
Jonk was inspired by myths, Bible stories and great themes such as love, peace, and fertility. He is best-known for his voluptuous sculptures of mythological scenes, women, and animals. He also created many paintings, graphic works, ceramics, glass objects, and jewellery. Earth, sun, water, whales, the Woman and the Mother were all important recurring elements in his abstract, organic work. He revisited the themes of Jonah and the Whale eight times in his sculptures. He said of his work "When people understand my sculptures, they feel the soul I've put inside them".
Many of Jonk's larger sculptures appear as public artworks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US.
Jonk died in 1994.
Geolocation
Citation
“Nic Jonk,” Tyler Collection of Romanian and Modern Art: University of Tasmania, accessed April 26, 2024, https://tylercollection.omeka.net/items/show/2269.