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ARTIST STATEMENT
When I paint, I use a narrow color spectrum. I strip an image down by three criteria: depth of field, shadow and light, and its fight with gravity. I believe it's these rules, by which an observer moves past staring at dried paint and accepts an image for its illusion. When it comes to athletes "the fight" with gravity is especially powerful as they seriously engage in working with it or defying it. Colors, to me, are a way to organize a piece. Painting humans in teal makes them the most noticeable part of the plot. Oxidizing is about letting go and collaging is about discreetly bringing in brash shapes and banal sound bites of the time.
Having been wall-eyed, near sighted and asthmatic growing up, I would be the last one picked for any team, but we all want to belong and live vicariously through our heroes and favorite clubs. The culture around sports in the States is something I felt was really powerful when I first encountered it. Having briefly been a seamstress, I also fell in love with the gear, especially how it wears and tears. For all its flaws and commerciality, sports are a perfect reflection of Americana and that's what compelled me.
In a time where everything else is there to propel us forward faster and faster, art is one thing that is meant to slow you down, even if it's just a little and reflect. Please join me for this fresh body of work on August 2nd.
- Charlotta Janssen
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