EmbracingOldPainStanding . Karin Arink

’embracing old pain, standing’ 2024
photo
of me standing, carrying ‘VerteerWezen 19 (embracing old pain)’ 1984-2024
using a very old oil-on-panel painting of 1984,
which I cut into a figure-like shape and to which I then added an ’embrace’
of papier m,ache made from old magazine clippings
(all colour comes from that)

the second work photographing myself behind an object made by reusing my oil paintings
that were made when i was very young and not yet had any art training
and with which i was rejected for art school in 1985
first work: ‘embracing rejection’ 2021

one of the ‘VerteerWezens’ works:
‘VerteerWezens’ is an ongoing series of spatial objects in papier-mâché, started in 2017. The title can be roughly translated as ‘digested-beings’. In each work, a rejected object or utensil is combined with aluminium modelling mesh, cardboard and/or other materials. This is covered with a layer of papier maché made from shredded left-over papers, magazines, waste paper. In this way, used objects, materials and art works are “digested” by turning them into creatures/beings.
By photographing myself behind/with these sculptures, the relation between the affect-rich object and my concrete physical body becomes clear.
The series ‘VerteerWezens’ is ongoing, and so are the related photo works.

all ‘VerteerWezen’ photo works: ‘DenkRaum’ 2019 / ‘behind skins and stones’ 2019 / ‘behind red arms’ 2020 / ‘behind shredded lilac’ 2019 / ‘embracing rejection’ 2021 / ‘behind arms’ 2022 / hiding behind witheid (whiteness)’ 2022 / ‘GreenDressFun’ 2021-2023 / ’embracing old pain, standing’ 2024 /

related photo works: ‘slit’ 1999 / ‘CutDressCutPhoto (Purple)’ 2000 (cut photo) /