Behind The Gallery: a chat with daughter and father Van Campen

More than 20 years ago Minneke Van Campen organized her expositions at home, where she presented the artwork of her father, the renowned Antwerp ‘harbor painter’ Jef Van Campen.

The increasing flow of visitors, new artists and an international clientele organically evolved into the gallery as we know it today; the in Antwerp and Knokke based 'Van Campen en Rochtus'. We had the opportunity to talk with both artist and gallery owner; father, daughter, the art and the internet.

Collaboration between father and daughter, may the odds be in your favor?

Minneke Van Campen (MVC): Our collaboration developed in a very organic way. I am the daughter of an artist. In my younger years I organized expositions for dad – on location, very low key. We didn’t have our own gallery at that time. So my love and interest for art have been established at a very early age.

Jef Van Campen (JVC): Yes, Minneke even posed for me!

MVC: At a certain moment we were so fortunate to get in touch with our Maecenas, mister Rochtus, an art collector and fan of Dad’s work. He made an offer for a partnership as soon as the time was right to start our own gallery. And that’s where it all begun.

The gallery exists fifteen years. Since the very start Dad has been my first and most important artist, at least one of the most important. But it was my responsibility to build the bridge towards a professional organization. If you want to become a viable player in the art business, you better collect a wide range of artists around you. And fortunately more and more artists came along – and stayed.

JVC: It’s not just about creating a painting and attaching it to the wall. People tend to think in those terms, but it’s not that easy. There is more than meets the eye. Sometimes we have a different point of view, Minneke and I, even fights! But in all those years, differences always solved themselves. We need opposition, apparently.

MVC: I would rather call our discussions intensive but constructive negotiations, haha! The selection process is a good example. Which of the present works of art will be exhibited? And why? Who will take the final decision? It could be quite a job to make the right decision. Though, we always get there. To be honest: at the end of the day it’s me who is in charge.

JVC: Yes, whereas I can concentrate on being creative, Minneke can play her role as the decision maker, leaning on her expertise and overall view.

MVC: It is such a unique and a privileged position we both are in: father and daughter ánd working together on such different levels of creativity! Who else can state such a thing?

The established Antwerp maritime painter is turning 83 next year?

JVC: I am born as an artist, like my dad, granddad and all those Van Campen’s before (for example the Jacob van Campen; the architect of the Mauritshuis at The Hague or the city hall at Amsterdam; now the Royal Palace). It has been in our genes for generations. Of course, nothing comes by itself, you can never rest on your laurels.

MVC: ….you do need talent.

JVC: They gave me the name of the harbor painter, and indeed, my recurring theme is the maritime world. In my younger days I took my bike and drove through the harbor for hours. It attracted me, it triggered my fantasy. But times have changed. The harbor has changed.

Since those early years I have gone through many life stages whilst painting. Yes, I work all day. Painting is my breath of life. I won’t stop until my right hand falls off.

Creativity and commercialism, do they go hand in hand?

JVC: The MSC painting is a good example. MSC, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, is the biggest in the world and all of us know this company. A commercial way of thinking, isn’t it? They say I am not commercial, but during my creative process I do keep the art consumer in mind. Of course along the way I never give up staying true to my creativity and subject. But what is painting? How do you develop opportunities and recognition as an artist? I am not an abstract painter. Working figuratively creates these opportunities. Voilà, I am commercial in my own way.

MVC: Dad paints straight from his guts, against any influences or modern trends. He is a very emotional man; by way of art he wishes to touch the soul of the viewer.

And this passionate attitude catches on?

MVC: Definitely, the family lives from the work of my dad. But we have to do our utmost.

Do you still need to be involved in online marketing now that your dad is, as it were, ‘arrived’?

MVC: As the gallery owner it is my task to support the promotion of our artists, all day and every day. We live in a world in which you must permanently keep the audience in contact with the artist. There are so many artists and so many choices. Even though my dad is a professional artist for over sixty years, with his own clientele, we have to keep generating exposure. And there are a lot of new areas we need to get in touch with, especially on the international level. So there is much to be done. Even for the greatest artists, one can’t do without promotion.

Art and the Internet?

MVC: I am more and more convinced that, as a gallery and thus the main representative of your artists, you have to offer more than just one platform. Apart from the physical space of the gallery itself, your own website and the fairs, there is a growing need for an international online platform like Gallerease. A necessary and significant tool. Very interesting, all this, but also very demanding for me as the gallery owner to make the right choices. For you a challenge to make a difference and to be unique, on an international scale.  

JVC: The problem when you are a gallery on your own is the global presentation. As I understand Gallerease well enough, it facilitates a platform that uses all the modern opportunities in the most efficient and convenient way and gives a gallery the ultimate chance to present itself full-scale and internationally. As the artist I truly support that. Me myself, I don’t need to go anywhere. I surf abroad with my computer. Correct, I am not from the computer generation. But I have always tried to keep up with the digital developments. With a big thank you to our children and grandchildren!

Want to see more of Jef Van Campen? On the 13th of October there will be a very unique presentation of his work in the Van Campen & Rochtus gallery, with guest speakers Dhr. Philip Heylen en Dhr. Marc Beerlandt, CEO of MSC Antwerp.

This article was the result of (another) daughter-father collaboration; written by Janna Fassaert and Rob Fassaert. 

For more information about the works of Jeff Van Campen and the collection at Gallery Van Campen & Rochtus, have a look here!

For more curated fine art also have a look at Gallerease!