Art at the Tourist Information Centre: Hans Schoens

From 6 July to 3 August 2026, the Purmerend Tourist Information Centre’s display window will feature exceptional work by artist Hans Schoens. Among other pieces, he is presenting the painting ‘Hé Ping – Vrede’ (artwork no. 066), a powerful acrylic work in which beauty, symbolism and social tension converge.

Distinctive visual language
Schoens draws inspiration from culture, history and his background in Egyptology. His work navigates between recognisable forms, social themes and a clear visual language reminiscent of De Stijl and Mondrian. “I create different kinds of art mainly because I enjoy it. My background in Egyptology plays an important role in this.”

His work is characterised by clean lines, geometric planes and the use of bold colours. For his painting technique, Schoens uses, amongst other things, palette knives, Japanese spatulas and high-quality acrylic paint. “I often say ‘Mondrian-style’; then the person asking knows straight away what I mean.”

Peace and Power
‘Hé Ping – Peace’ appears colourful and harmonious at first glance, but carries a deeper message. In the Chinese character, the gold is paper-thin, and economic prosperity could just as easily turn negative because the country has become too dependent on global trade. A large grey area symbolises the oppression and discrimination that prevail on a daily basis. However beautiful the country and its people may be, they will never be able to speak freely as long as dictatorship holds sway. “All that glitters is not gold, and it is often paper-thin,” says Schoens.

Also on display is the painting *Salam*. The Arabic word for peace is surrounded by ancient symbols of knowledge and protection, such as celestial bodies and the eye that wards off evil. The broken word symbolises how fragile peace is in many Arabic-speaking regions, where religious and political tensions, internal conflicts and regional disputes threaten it time and again

With these two paintings, Hans Schoens invites visitors to look beyond first impressions and reflect on the meaning behind the imagery and colour.

For more information about the artist and his work: www.hansschoens.nl.