Medium_Watercolour on 300 g/m2 paper

Size_21.5”x26.75”(SM)

Year_2023

“Although Christ and the unicorn seem to have nothing to do with each other, in the symbolism of the Christian tradition they share characteristics such as: purity, virginity and mystical power.In the Christian tradition, Jesus is one of the most depicted figures in Western art history. His presence in every church, every home and every museum.

In the capitalist faith there are other images that have the same intensity of repetition. The unicorn is one of them. Once a mythical animal, the unicorn has become a commercial icon. You find it on glittery school supplies, coffee mugs, pajamas - and as a term in the business world: a ‘unicorn company’ is a billion-dollar company, rare and coveted, but now mentioned so often that its magic has been lost.

These paintings refer to the image of the unicorn of our time, but at the same time an attempt is made to restore some of the unicorn’s mystical power.”

Rop van Mierlo (born 1980) is a Dutch artist and designer, educated at the Design Academy Eindhoven. He gained international acclaim with his picture book Wild Animals, which won the prestigious Dutch Design Award.

At the heart of Rop’s work is his unique wet-on-wet painting technique, where colors flow freely across the paper, creating animal portraits that feel spontaneous and alive. This playful yet intentional style reflects on humanity’s instinct to control nature, inviting viewers to reconsider that relationship.

His books are part of the collections at MoMA in New York, the Design Museum in London, and Do You Read Me!? In Berlin. Rop has also teamed up with well-known global brands including Hermès, Marni, Moncler, H&M, Sandro Paris, Maison Kitsuné, A24, Stockmar, Head Porter, and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Rop currently lives and works in Amsterdam.