Happy Encounters

What happens when you encounter something – or someone – different from yourself? The true art is to listen with an open mind. Happy Encounters is a series of works by Dana Dijkgraaf that portrays meetings between people and other organisms, inviting us to look at others with openness and curiosity.
More info
Artist
Dana Dijkgraaf
Exhibited in
De Kunsthal, Rotterdam
Published in
De Grote NL Kunstkalender

Concept
Happy Encounters was born from the ideology of striving for greater equality in the world we live in – between humans and nature, humans and animals, and among people themselves. To move toward that vision, Dijkgraaf believes an open attitude is essential. By listening with an open mind, we create more space for respect and empathy. From that place, it becomes possible to come together, to explore how we might move forward, and to share the space we inhabit.

Wat we hebben gemaakt?
Happy Encounters is an ongoing series of works that began in 2023. Using a range of drawing and painting techniques, imaginative figures are layered onto vintage postcards. A recognizable human figure recurs throughout the series – engaging in a new encounter in each scene.

Sparkles
Every postcard is unique, sourced from second-hand markets and shops across different countries. Some are older than others and produced with diverse printing techniques. Happy Encounters was exhibited in the show CUTE at Kunsthal Rotterdam (July–November 2025) and published in the De Grote NL Kunstkalender 2025. The project is exhibited together with Wouldn’t they be amazing? 

Less info