Exhibition Mondrian, a better world | Mondrian House

An exhibition following the publication of Erik de Graaf's graphic novel of the same name. The graphic novelist honors the famous painter with a colorful story about the last eventful years of his life in Paris, London and New York. On view from Oct. 19, 2024.

Almost everyone knows Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) as the revolutionary painter of red, white, blue and yellow planes divided between tight black lines. Less well known is that the artist saw it as his task to strive for balance and harmony in his compositions, as a blueprint for a better world.The exhibition Mondrian, a Better World, on view at the Mondrian House starting Oct. 19, explores Mondrian's philosophical and idealistic side.

The occasion for this exhibition is the publication of Erik de Graaf's graphic novel of the same name. In the fist-sized publication, which will be published this fall, the graphic novelist depicts how Mondrian spent the last 11 years of his life moving from Paris, to London and finally to New York, fleeing the rising tide of Nazism in Europe. Against the backdrop of World War II, Mondrian continued to search until his death for a way to bring light to the world's growing darkness.

About Erik de Graaf

Erik de Graaf (Vlaardingen, 1961) has been drawing since he could hold a pencil. However, it took another 40 years before he made his debut as a comic book author.

From 2003, in quick succession appeared Verbleekte Herinneringen (Faded Memories), Gekleurd Geheugen (Colored Memory) and Gevonden Verleden (Lost Past), three collections of short stories loosely based on his youth.With Shards and Scars, De Graaf then created a diptych about a group of young friends during World War II. These publications also appeared in French at Dupuis under the titles Éclats and Cicatrices.

In October 2024, his graphic novel Mondrian, a Better World will be published by Scratch Books publishers and will also be available in the Mondrian House's museum shop.