Geert Lap – Perfect Simplicity

From 10 February 2018, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen presents an exhibition of work by ceramicist Geert Lap, who died last year. The museum is proud to be able to honour Lap with no fewer than twenty-five works from its permanent collection.

Geert Lap (Venlo 24 December 1951 – Amsterdam 26 April 2017) studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam under ceramicist Jan van der Vaart, graduating alongside renowned potters Babs Haenen, Barbara Nanning and Irene Vonck. His work, which exudes an unparalleled simplicity, serenity and harmoniousness, does not fit within a particular movement but occupies a unique position within the history of ceramics. He strove for absolute perfection in his work, aspiring to execute his forms precisely as he envisaged them, leaving nothing to chance. Viewing colour was an extension of his forms, he developed his own personal vocabulary and colour system. In this respect, the work ‘Colour Triangle’, featured in the exhibition, is one of his most important works.

Lap was admired for his integrity: staying true to his own ideas. It therefore comes as no surprise that he was one of the few contemporary Dutch ceramicists to achieve an international reputation: his works are included in collections all around the world.