Members View: Rick Schulte
Rick Schulte is a member of The Circle and an avid art collector. In his daily life, he works as an optometrist. For this column, Rick shows the work that currently appeals to his imagination the most. He chose the work “Still Life with Tritelea” (2018) by Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf — famous for various projects, including designing the portrait of King Willem Alexander for the new euro coin.
Rick: This beautiful work is hung in our living room. When we sit there (or in the next room), we always look at it in amazement, remarking on the balanced picture. What fascinates us are the clear lines, the ways in which Mondrian functioned as inspiration, the personality of the photographer and the moment when we bought it.”
Olaf himself also refers to Mondrian when he speaks about the work. Olaf: “In recent years, I have been studying the connection between form and emotion. What does a still life means to me when lines mix the beauty of flowers, or when shapes and lines cross with round forms? I love the work of Mondrian, and I am fascinated by the way he could imbue his abstract paintings with emotions.”
Rick: “We saw the work for the first time during the opening night of the PAN art fair. It was love at first sight, for both of us. Two days later, we revisited the fair and bought the work together. We had bought art separately, both before and during our relationship, but this was the first work that we bought together. Very exciting and it gave us a wonderful feeling. And it still does.”
