Marc van der Zwet (1965) paints with oil on panel. He sculpts his oeuvre from colour, light, texture and form. The search for stillness and the interplay of light and shadow are central. Nature is a source of inspiration.

Why do you paint?
'I play with the unpredictable. You start with an idea, and in the end it turns out different anyway. It's a journey of discovery on the square centimeter. Chance is important in my work. I often find the suggestion more interesting than the actual representation. Humour makes my work lighter.'

What is that reality then, according to you?
'That's what you make of it. Painting is for me the space for imagination. I find it beautiful to create something that doesn't yet exist, something that has never been before, searching for the new. I begin with nothing. By playing with dark and light shades, colour emerges. Texture of course plays a role too. The idea becomes visible when light falls on it. Oil paint gives a very deep result. That interplay of light and shadow is always exciting. But ultimately I still search for stillness. Actually, everything I make is stilled.'