Artist Statement

 

    Working mostly with oil paint, I tend to focus on colour. I try giving the subject an expressionist language with the use of colour and texture. I work a lot with human sensations and reflections, representing these with colour and often inflicting them on the body itself.

     I am currently exploring meat, flesh and skin. I am interested in the emotions that could be conveyed to the viewer through the formal qualities: texture, colour, composition and form of my subject matter. I am intrigued in the fine line between the sensual and the abject. The sensual body is lustful, desired and arousing. Whereas the abject body is challenging to the viewer. I want to explore the juxtaposition of sensual skin and body with the abject meat and flesh. What does that do to the viewer? Or the subject? Does the body become abject? Or does the meat become sensual?

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    In continuation with my inquiry into the abject my newest project, Viscera, is about the civilised and unified body. How is the civilising process and the regulated body related to the abject and how are these notions challenged in contemporary art and society? The term abjection literally means ‘the state of being cast off’. The abject is something that inspires repulsion. In an art context it is that which inherently disturbs conventional identity and cultural concepts. Abject art explores themes that transgress and threaten our sense of cleanliness and propriety particularly referencing the body and bodily functions. The body has become increasingly subject to various forms of social control. Civilised society has developed a heightened self awareness of the body and its uncontrollable functions which has impinged an abject relationship with our bodily functions. I am exploring and challenging the perception of bodily functions through artistic practice and artmaking by utilising categories of the abject.