Toon Teeken is an artist whose work is deeply rooted in exploring the nature of image and imagination. He translates ideas and images already present in his mind into tangible forms. Modern classical music plays a major role in his creative process and provides him with energy. His work is strongly language-oriented; he considers all his creations as text, working in what he calls a ‘linguistic space’. This approach gives him the freedom to interweave various forms of expression, such as writing, drawing and painting. Ignorance is a main motif of his work.

The many portraits he made of famous people from the cultural world or family or friends are also all about the decisive ignorance of the person. The whole complex of perceiving, experiencing, looking, alienating always plays a role. Color, form, matter, surface, gesture, brushstroke and content always want to be equal to each other.