| Dear Olav, |
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Ladies and Gentlemen, If we include the Vijzelgracht era, for most of us here today it won't be the first time that we are gathered together in this way. I don't know about you, but as far as I'm concerned I can feel the horizon widen as my persuasiveness expands, so I'm not sure whether my words sound any louder. Which is a good thing, as I'd like to take this opportunity to say a few personal words to you, Olav. Dear Olav, Although we have been working together for over 22 years, I'm firmly convinced that that makes us far from old yet. In fact, I'm sure we've only just reached the half-way stage of our careers. What we should therefore do is pretend on the one hand that we've made it to the big time while on the other focusing with all due modesty on what the rest of our future still has in store. It's kind of a comfortable feeling to know that one will have something to keep one occupied for the next couple of decades, even though an optimistic homeless person probably wouldn't have too much trouble convincing himself that the big city will still be there in 50 years' time and that he is perfectly willing to advise the average housed citizen that in his opinion their current worries and anxieties will no more have disappeared by then than the increase in house prices. And so, as a way of casting off all confusion, I hereby state that although I'm not burdened by a sense of inferiority, I nevertheless have the feeling that the wheels of time are far from having raged out. Following which I can afford to train my eye on your paintings and reconcile with the discrepancy of it being my duty to make a noice about your talent of painting silence. I'm not sure whether or not this wraps up what I have to say, and so I suggest by way of a temporary diversion that I should hereby declare your exhibition open. |