Ernest Anna Bessems
1996
Based in Amsterdam
My work delves into the profound depths of intrinsic human emotions, unearthing and elevating them through a journey of mourning and organic rawness. This essence of grief captures the unfiltered sorrow and beauty that arise from loss, reflecting life's unpolished edges and honest imperfections.
Central to my art is the delicate balance between distortion and allowing things to exist as they are. The materials I work with tell their own stories, and my role is to influence and transform them while maintaining a tension between their inherent nature and my manipulation. This interplay forms the essence of my creative process, allowing for a dynamic dialogue between what is and what can be.
Materials in my work serve as chapters in a larger narrative, each expressing a spectrum of emotions. Together, they weave a story rich in meaning and complexity, resonating with the depths of human experience. Every piece contributes to this overarching narrative, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in its multifaceted layers.
Performance is integral to my art. As an artist, I react viscerally to my feelings about a subject, physically engaging with the work created around it. This performance is a profound commitment, a complete surrender of body and mind to translate my vision into tangible form. It is through this embodied expression that the work comes alive, merging the artist's presence with the material narrative.
My art seeks to uncover the qualities of "bad" or somber emotions, transforming their inherent strength into powerful expressions. By embracing these darker aspects of our emotional spectrum, I reveal their foundational role in our existence and growth. This exploration allows for a deeper understanding of ourselves, turning what is often hidden into a source of resilience and insight.
I draw on the rich tapestries of religion and mythology, juxtaposing historical ideas and emotions with contemporary experiences. By inventing and creating new stories, I reframe known concepts, shedding new light and providing fresh interpretations. This process fosters deeper understanding and insight, bridging the past with the present to reveal universal truths.
At the heart of my work is a commitment to purity and honesty. I seek the most genuine feelings, both intrinsic and societal, and bring them into the world unfiltered and unrestricted. Purity involves translating these feelings into the physical realm as authentically as possible, through movement, form, and material. My art strives to be direct, real, and unmediated, capturing the essence of human experience in its most unadulterated form.
My work does not shy away from intensity. It can be intimidating and imposing, designed to deeply penetrate the viewer's consciousness. Yet, beneath this imposing exterior lies a compassionate and empathetic force, acting as a mirror to society. Through this duality, the work challenges and comforts, provokes thought and offers solace.
Engaging with themes of post-religion, post-vandalism, transhumanism, and primal survival, my work seeks a new form of life that responds to Secular Humanism, Philosophical Naturalism, and Existential Responsibility. This exploration addresses the search for meaning and purpose in an increasingly complex and challenging world, urging us to reconsider and redefine our place within it.
My art is a journey through the deepest emotions and experiences of human existence. It is a raw, honest, and powerful expression of what it means to be human. Through the interplay of material, performance, and narrative, my work calls for introspection, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their own souls and celebrate the strength that comes from embracing our true selves.

Solo:
2023 7 Sins - Art Chapel, Amsterdam
Group
2024 Vigil, Afterlife, (Shipton) - Loods 6
2024 Amsterdam Art week (Young stedelijk) - Wired Freedom at Sexyland
2024 Miks and match - Amsterdam
2024 Projectspace 38/40 - Amsterdam
2024 Ijzingwekkend 7 - Kunsthal 45, Den Helder
2023 Pakhuis de Zwijger - Amsterdam
2023 7 Sins - Museum of Young Art, Oosterhout
2023 Leegte - Frame de galerie, Amersfoort
2023 Through Bone and Marrow - Brutus, Rotterdam
2022 Postposition - Academie gallery, Utrecht
2022 Stichting Synergy (NOART) - NDSM Werf, Amsterdam
2022 K.L.8, Demolution - Brussel, België
2022 Kunst en Oesters - Amsterdam, Nederland
2021 Upscale Gallerie - Rotterdam, Nederland
2021 Kunst Koers - Utrecht, Nederland
2021 EX TUIN - Utrecht, Nederland
2020 Centraal Museum Utrecht - Utrecht, Nederland
2019 Imagine Film Festival - Eye museum Amsterdam, Nederland
Publicaties
2023 Petrichor - Deventer, Nederland
2023 Lost painter - Through bown and marrow (group)
2023 Numero - Amsterdam, Nederland
2021 RTV Utrecht - Utrecht, Nederland
Podcast:
Intermezzo d’Arte #23 w/ Maarten Spruyt & Ernest Bessems - Humie // Echobox Radio 16/06/23