In the spring of 2010 a new figure appeared in Edmond Rinnooy Kan’s paintings. It was a simple, stocky creature, not more than a head on legs.
His name was Gou-gou. Since then Gou-gou has been coming back and now has a dominant presence in all Rinnooy Kan’s work.

Gou-gou comes in different forms. It can appear as a single person, as a group, as a two legged or four legged creature, male, female or sexless. Sometimes Gou-gou has arms, sometimes not. Yet Gou-gou is unmistakably Gou-gou.

Gou-gou is always shy, uncomfortable, detached and out-of-place. He is not unfriendly, but not friendly either. Neither is he happy nor unhappy.
He just has a hard time relating to anything.