#543 Internal Fear
64x84 cm | Filler, oak panel
About
This work deals with our fear of the unknown. It can be expressed as xenophobia, fear of aliens or the supernatural, and many other things. I believe what really scares us is the possibility that the unknown will change us, that we will no longer recognise who we are after encountering the stranger. But one might ask oneself if the truly unknown isn’t always already present within the body. The greatest stranger is ourselves.
Fear is the dark side of desire. The desire to break out of our alienation and become one with something outside our closed minds is also what we fear the most—to lose ourselves and our subjective position.
It is also part of the diptych #545 Fear of Change. Perhaps it is primarily relevant to the privileged, but even marginalised and oppressed groups sometimes cling to the status quo in fear of losing whatever foothold they have. Furthermore, I believe it is part of the human condition.
Roll
Roll is a compilation of work made by rolling the filler until it reaches the depth of the rim of the frame. The method of letting a single action shape the work is reminiscent of Richard Serra's Verb List. It functioned as a kind of manifest for Serra's way of producing sculptures. To roll is first on the list. It´s about making art by simply exposing a matter to different kinds of forces.
Template
Template is a compilation of works made by using pieces of wooden plates as templates. They function a bit as a mould or matrix for the finished work.
Reminiscent of Richard Serra's Verb List, I use simple and clearly defined actions to shape the filler in my works. This method ensures non-cognitive aspects of the production process, which allows for unknown elements to enter.