By Jonathan Shih
"The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves." - Willem de Kooning
At a glance Willem de Kooning had an extraordinary life: coming to America as a stowaway, living as an illegal immigrant for decades, then becoming immersed in a group of artists who would change the world. Yet he was only human. He experienced ups and downs, took risks and followed his heart. He struggled with addiction, broke the hearts of lovers and failed to live up to his own expectations. He was earnest, sincere, and forever plagued by self-doubt. He was both extraordinary and utterly ordinary.
What makes him stand out is perhaps his fortitude. He never ceased to push himself. The spirit of that 12-year old boy who left school to pursue a creative career stayed with De Kooning his entire life, and he served that spirit well. It is fitting that the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts and Techniques, where De Kooning attended night school as a teenager, changed its name after De Kooning died to the Willem de Kooning Academie. What better testament to an artist who remained consistently true to his art, his intellect, his passion, and to the intrepid spirit of youth.
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