His series ‘Politie’ (Police) examines the distinction between abstract and realistic art, and how the viewer mentally ‘completes’ the image by filling in the blank spaces. The thick brushwork allows for the policemen to be made recognizable in the dark night by their fluorescent yellow uniforms. Daan explains: “Every Dutchman recognises this image of ‘the cop’ and immediately links associations like ‘Oh shit, is the light on my bicycle working?’ The policemen resemble loitering youths, together in groups, hanging around, looking around being very present.”

He plays with the transfer from paint to image: patches of paint remain open to interpretation by the viewer, others blend into an image. Here too Den Houter demonstrates his flawless sense of aesthetics.