
Arens participated in TV show De Gezonken Meesters
Arens participated in the open category of De Gezonken Meesters, a cross-media program that revives six lost Dutch masterpieces. Arens took on the challenge of reinterpreting a long-lost work in his own style.
The program, airing from January 19 on MAX, NPO 1, revolves around six Dutch paintings that were lost when the ship Vrouw Maria sank in 1771. These masterpieces, originally destined for Empress Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg, never reached their final destination, disappearing beneath the waves off the Finnish coast. Now, centuries later, artists like Arens have the opportunity to breathe new life into these submerged treasures.

‘Vrouw met waarschijnlijk huiswerk’ – 24/29 cm, acrylics and ink on canvas
A Creative Interpretation
Unlike the selected artists who must reconstruct the paintings as precisely as possible, the open category allows for more artistic freedom. Here, participants can use any medium or technique to create their interpretation of the lost masterpiece. Whether through painting, textiles, recycled materials, or even digital art, the only requirement is that the essence of the original work remains present.
For Arens, this competition is the perfect playground. Renowned for his contemporary take on classic themes, he is no stranger to reimagining historical art through a modern lens. His past work often plays with color, form, and abstraction, making him a logical contender in De Gezonken Meesters.
Guided by Experts
All participants, including Arens, received guidance from an expert jury consisting of Pieter Roelofs (Head of Fine Arts at the Rijksmuseum) and Abbie Vandivere (Restorer at the Mauritshuis). Using historical records and existing references, they helped contestants understand the lost works and their creators’ techniques.
Exhibition and Online Showcase
The winning works, including those from the open category, will be displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam from February 24. Additionally, all finalist pieces are featured in an online exhibition, where viewers can also submit their own versions of the sunken masterpieces.