Garden party oil on canvas (cotton) 100 × 160 cm December 2017
I have happy memories of the many garden parties over the years at the house where I have lived since 1971. Each year, in the middle of summer, we celebrated my birthday and that of Greetje’s, with friends and family. This painting is a souvenir, since Liesbeth and I are moving.
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An intimate environment is depicted here: the patio under the trees, with the sparkling fountain at its centre and my self-built cozy Taverna at the edge. The Greek and Irish music records being played added to the unique atmosphere.
In recent years, the party was occasionally graced by the singing of Marleen accompanied by Dorus, or by Dorus alone on his violin; mostly Irish songs, jigs and reels. The Irish ballad The Parting Glass — no less melancholic than Greek rebetika — would have fitted perfectly here.
Reminiscences
The Parting Glass (here sung by Sinéad O’Connor)
Δύο πόρτες έχει η ζωή ‘Life has two doors’ (Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης)
