盖 西 纳 嘎 在 太 空 – 20-10-21 (Geesje Kwak in Space)

Geesje in Space Kimono

Who would have ever though of Geesje Kwak in Space? Of course she already was fond of higher spheres. That much you can tell from my last graphite pencil drawing where she dwelled under a starry night. Many things came to be after her posing days on lush carpets. As of now it’s relaxing time for Geesje after a hard day’s work. In her space kimono in a little tin can she is contemplating future ventures.

Chinese Space Program

What not many people know is that she did not really die back in 1899. Instead she was recruited as an astronaut trainee by the imperial Chinese Space Program. That happened when some Chinese scouts spotted her at Pretoria, South Africa. Still early in their space program the Chinese discovered the true wonders of Geesje. They finally found the perfect candidate to kick off their ambitious space exploration agenda for the 20th century. She is a natural beauty and typified by her determination to boldly go where no one has gone before. She escaped Amsterdam, The Netherlands before and that supports her strong and determined character. If you survived Breitner, Amsterdam, poverty, a hefty boat trip and TBC, then you can beat space all the same.

Cubist Styling

She underwent heavy training for quite some years and was eventually launched in 1907. That also was the year of the first cubist movement started by Picasso and Braque. People in China must have a strong sense of combining technics and art. I added some hexagonal and pentagonal structures to support these cubist ambitions. Back then the world still looked a bit more cubistic and edgy anyway. As to this I thank my student Mar to introduce me to Steam Punk. Without that Geesje could not have survived outside our atmosphere. I also thank my student Hans for our discussion on the merits of Cézanne’s portrait of Joachim Gasquet. It inspired me to keep Geesje’s portrait a bit diffuse.

The Planet Earth is Blue and There’s Nothing I Can Do

Surely, we the Dutch, are proud of Geesje as can be. We often wonder where she is at as we speak. Is her capsule set adrift straight into deep space or does she still orbit planet Earth? From up high does she still looks at our planet blue and is there nothing she can do? Would she still think of us now and then? If you look up to the stars, maybe you will discover her.

Graphite pencil drawing (Sakura 0.5 mm, 4B) on Talens Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm) - A4 format)

Artist: Corné Akkers