Merkesteijn is a Dutch artist who resides in The Hague, The Netherlands. He is renowned for his landscape artworks, often created en plein air. Born in 1960, Merkesteijn grew up near a forest and dunes in a small village in the northern part of the country. At a young age, he became captivated by the natural environment of this region. He was intrigued by how weather conditions and seasons shaped the experience of these surroundings. This fascination inspired him to create small drawings and paintings, leading him to pursue studies in the arts.
In 1980, he moved to Amsterdam, where he lived close to the art scene and graduated in Fine Arts from VL-VU. He further pursued a study in Monumental Art at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. Following his studies, he worked as a freelance illustrator while continuing to paint. His clients included newspapers, Zorn publishers, RNTC (educational radio/television), Weekmedia Amsterdam, and others.
In 1990, Merkesteijn relocated to The Hague, near the beach, forest, and dunes. Between 1985 and 1998, he had the opportunity to work as a consultant and teacher in Graphic Art and Communication at the GMDC (Graphic Media Development Centre), which was part of SDU in The Hague. During this period, he also engaged in work, as consultant, in developing countries like Uganda, Colombia, Bangladesh, Maldives, Zambia, Tanzania and more.. He developed an interest in rural development issues such as gender, politics, social infrastructure, and human rights.
After 15 years of traveling around the world for his graphic/art consulting job, Merkesteijn's role came to an end. In the subsequent years, he faced a deep depression and struggled with alcohol addiction, pushing the boundaries of life. Therapy aided in his recovery, and he made the decision to continue his artistic journey as a painter. During his recovery, he created the ongoing series 'Inner Turmoils.' Additionally, he began teaching art and ICT graphics to young students at Davinci in Leiden.
In his current artworks, Merkesteijn continues to focus on landscapes created en plein air and his 'inner turmoil' series. His inspiration for the landscapes now stems from the interplay between his mental state and the local natural environment around The Hague, where he resides. He also draws inspiration from the French commune Barbizon and the traditional 'Haagse School' art movement. In particular, he feels a connection through his granduncle Gerardus de Groot, a well-known painter of the Haagse School movement.
In the series "Inner Turmoils," Merkesteijn reflects a portion of his darker past and the contemporary generation of humans in his political and social environment:
"...Merkesteijn has chosen to delve into his own self to create distorted portraits and images featuring characters that emanate his inner turmoil, drawing inspiration from it. These characters seem to possess fluid genders, displaying both masculine and feminine traits. Their outlines are chaotic. Their colors mirror his internal conflict – they are angry splashes of blacks and blues with occasional bursts of neon green. They are abstract figures that transcend social divisions while representing simple concepts through their titles, things like 'Watching Television' and 'After Work Was Done'…" - Newspaper The Daily Star South-Asia 2015 -
Merkesteijn is recognized as an artist who paints for himself rather than for the world of galleries. He has consistently been reluctant to exhibit his work to a broad audience, though he occasionally agrees to an exhibition when the objective extends beyond art and mere art sales. Consider social issues that pique his interest. Merkesteijn states, "I paint for myself and less for others. If I were to paint solely for money, I might as well work in an office…"
In recent years, he has only sold his artwork under exceptional conditions, where he deems it extremely important to be well-acquainted with the buyer. "I always want to ensure that my paintings end up in the right setting, and I want to establish a genuine connection with the buyer through my work." Many of his pieces can be found in private collections around the world, including South America, the USA, South Asia, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Seychelles, East Africa, and more.
Every two years, Merkesteijn participates in social projects, such as the "Festival of Older People," the "Dhaka Art Festival," "Homeless People," and "Gespuis in de Spuistraat Amsterdam." These are international initiatives through which he contributes to the world.
Ronald van Merkesteijn channels his expression through inner turmoil and landscapes. His work can be described as dynamic and vibrant, yet it also carries a haunting atmosphere for the viewer. While he has been averse to widespread publication until now, in 2020 he was confronted with a terminal kidney tumor: diagnose palliative. At this juncture in his life, he decided to open up his artwork to the public more and share his inspiration and will to live.
"Art is not a goal in itself, or a way to make profit for me, but a way to understand life."