Thijs Roest

Who isn’t filled with wonder when witnessing the endless flow of shapes and colors in the world around us? What are these forms, where do they come from, and what is this human form that perceives it all? These questions are at the heart of my life and my art. Years spent as an ordained Zen Buddhist monk in a monastery have deeply shaped my worldview — one that is rooted in the experience of oneness, yet equally aware of the ever-changing multitude of forms that make up our perceived reality. Now living on the northern coast of the Netherlands, I explore these themes through watercolor painting — a medium especially suited to express the fluidity and impermanence of life. Where traditional Zen art often emphasizes simplicity and emptiness, my work seeks to express the opposite side of that same coin: the vibrant multiplicity of colors and forms, appearing separate, yet always interconnected. The paintings try to depict an organic world full of life and mystery — flowing shapes, vivid colors, and elements that resemble humans, animals, and plants. Rather than offering a clear narrative, they invite the viewer to find their own meaning, to interpret and experience. The creative process is intuitive and meditative. Each painting begins with a sense or an idea, but the outcome is always different from what I envisioned. It is a process of following, not directing, trying to go where the painting tells me to. Meditation plays a major part in this process. I was born in 1965 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and studied biology at Wageningen University — a background that still informs my fascination with organic structures. I have no formal art education, besides a very limited practice of sumi-e (ink painting), and Japanese calligraphy.