VICKY VUURMAN IB Visual Arts 2016 Lincoln School Costa Rica

The Artist Statement

by Vicky Vuurman

My body of work’s direction changed since the beginning to become what it is now. I started wanting to make a fashion jewelry collection to raise awareness of the Syrian conflict, however, after much research on the theme of conflict I learned about so many more problems that pass unnoticed every day and decided to address that as a whole.

As I said before, the theme that can be identified most in my artworks is conflict. What motivated me to choose this topic was the unceasing curiosity I had of learning about conflicts that are happening now and nobody knows about it because they are not the “trending problem”. I believe everybody should live under the circumstances of human rights and that the violation of such should be strongly punished. I believe in peace and that everybody should be treated the same no mater what. I believe respect in foundation of any relationship.

The ways my works is arranges enhances the relationship between them because the four main works that display the theme of conflict are all series and are all together and connected to each other. The first one is a printmaking composed of three parts and the second one is also a series composed of three parts done with modeling paste, and they both lay out the process of catharsis. There is another series composed of seven small frames in and each has a little man running sewn to it and it represents the search for something new, something better, or the escape from things that have a negative impact on you. Finally, the fourth work is a lensed-based series composed of four images that represent

I intend my audience to understand the people who have to flee their homes and separate from their families to live in a safe place. I want them to feel compassion towards all the people who live in arduous conditions, conditions they can’t even imagine; I want them to imagine this. It is so easy to feel pity for these people, but what does it take for them to want to do something about it? I intent to reach this point on my audience.

I used small details as a way to catch my audience’s attention and make them have to look closely to the pieces to understand what they were. Sewing and threading were of the techniques I used the most to reach this effect. One of my artworks is composed the shape of a tree sewed into a canvas and painted with watercolors to fill in the white spaces and give it a shape. Another one of my artworks, I traced the outline of the shape I wanted to recreate by threading a dotted-holed paper. This type of artworks require the viewer to get close to it to be able to admire all the small details and therefore, identify the theme.

Moreover, the vision of presenting this body of work is to make people realize about the conflict that is present in every day’s life. I want the audience to see my artworks, especially those who are made in series to represent different steps of something, and recognize the developing stages I am representing through them. I decided to use my exhibition to raise awareness about the conflicts that happen and that are happening everyday around the world and that are not being payed attention to, or that are being payed attention to but just for a little while. I do not believe this is right or moral, and believe people should all live in peace and without the fear of being murdered, of having their families murdered each day and feel somebody ahs to address this.

Studio Work

Agape  by Vicky Vuurman

Mixed media 47 x 39 cms

Agapé is "the highest form of love", usually used to refer to the way God loves his people. The soft colors and natural pattern of this artwork conveys these feelings of peace in me and is what I want to transmit. Despite the hard and pointy lines that the sewing on the canvas produces, if you pay attention, it is evident that the image presented is an upside down tree. Nature. My inspiration for this artwork was freedom; the desire to be free.

Los Loisiga by Vicky Vuurman

Lense-based

40x47cm

The Loisiga's are a family of four that live in my house. My family members claim they can't see them but I am sure they do. They are not as thick as human fresh but are way denser than air, or smoke. At first I thought these beings were bad, or dangerous but in time and got to meet them and realized I had the wrong perception of them. The Loisiga´s are good “people”. However, I do not see them everywhere in my house, in fact, I have only seen them in the doorstep of my room and in the living room. Ohana.

Perspectivas by Vicky Vuurman

Paper mache sculture. Installation

When placed on top of a mirror, the branches of this treereflect its roots... It is quite metaphorical. The size of the mirror gives the viewer the liberty of seeing the tree from the perspective he/she wants and appreciate whatever asset he wants to. The golden chains represent the treasures we cling to even in the most difficult times, such as in death. The tree's leaves have all fallen, the tree is dying, and the tragedy is; people are dying day by day with nothing to hold on to.

Rescate by Vicky Vuurman

Acrylics on wood panel 55 x 65 cms

This continuous line drawing represents salvation. After all of the harsh days that pass, when somebody offers a helping hand at last, or not. The thick orange line above suggests it is sunrise, or perhaps it is sunset. The helicopter could be from allies eager to take their people out of bombing sites, or it could be the bombers, the enemies, who knows. Who knows? They know, they will, when it gets there.

Untittle by Vicky Vuurman

Acrylics on canvas 92 x 45 cms

The crouched body of a little girl sleeping on the floor exposes one of the horrors of war. The way children, who are not fighting or having anything to do with it end up being the most affected ones is heartbreaking. The strong brushstrokes represent the strength people who live in this type of conditions have inside of them.

VCX by Vicky Vuurman

Mixed media (Paper maché,

duct tape, concrete)

54x130x26cm

My inspiration to make this mannequin was that I want to study fashion design and love the idea of having my own atelier. I called it VCX because, if you try to pronounce it, it sounds something like "Vics" and that is my nickname. Also, VC are the initials to my name (Victoria Carolina) which adds significance to it. When connecting this piece to my overall theme of conflict, when I see it, I perceive it as an individual. The mannequin becomes a body and represents the solitude it may feel.

Efímeros by Vicky Vuurman

Sewing on paper

65x14cm

To do this artwork, I used the same silhouette of a person running in each frame, but when sewing it freely, they all came out differently, which enhances the idea of individuality. At the same time, even though the people are all in different frames, they are all escaping, they are all running away of the same problem: war, conflict, injustice, death. Each will have a different way to do so, but in the end they are all running towards the same direction, they are all looking for a greater good.

Éxodo by Vicky Vuurman

Linocut print 47x91cm

This printmake exposes the hard conditions some people live under. Behind the people lining up to get food, the ruins represent despair and their past. In front of them, the waves represent the ocean and new opportunities. This artwork is divided into three frames; the first frame represents the bombing of the land where the people inhabit. The second frame represents the journey through the ocean to reach to the third frame; a land full of new hopes and opportunities.

Exhibition setting

LUCIENNE SAUTER IB Visual Arts 2016 Lincoln School Costa Rica

The  Artist Statement

by Lucienne Sauter

My artworks portray different concepts; however, they all tie back to the theme of fear of the unknown. To approach this theme I sought to depict a fear that became almost mystical; a fear that, despite shutting many doors, managed to open new ones. This ‘unknown’, I intended, symbolized an obscure part of nature that was in this world much time before humans inhabited it. An unknown that can’t be ignored, but that can only be seen if desired. In my works I incorporated subjects such as misty rivers, antique shelves, unresolved lines of thoughts, primitive confrontations, secret revelations and groundless certainties. All pieces aim to create a sense of the presence of mist or unclearness. I used the book “Gnomes” by Wil Huygen, the river of my farm and my childhood dreams as a reference. Additionally, I was able to produce this display solely because I believe in the magic of each event depicted. This belief, I realized, came not from faith but from opening the eyes to a world that vibrates when we are sunken deeper in our comfort. 

            Three of my works, Impotence, Mestizo and Unknown Depths, belonged to a subtheme of colonization. As a Costa Rican I come from a line of Mestizos that evolved from the mixture of Spaniards and American Indians. This lineage has greatly influenced, not only my cultural, but my personal identity as well. These artworks include two paintings of acrylics in canvas and one carving in bee’s wax candle. I used elements such as: the sunset, which symbolized the loss of light and the coming of dark times for both, Spaniards and American Indians, and a blood red spot (behind the horse) to symbolize the deaths that would follow colonization in the Americas. It ultimately links to my primary theme of fear of the unknown because it shows a scenario of the fear that aroused in both, American Indians and Spaniards towards each other. This colonization devastated the American Indian population with disease and genocide but it also marked an economic downfall for Spain and a geographical disappointment. Despite damages, it founded the culture of Latin America. I wanted to portray these themes for receptors to identify with the history of their homelands and ponder upon the roots of their lineage. 

            My other artworks, Still Life, Coexistence, Its Coming, Line of Thoughts and Edelweiss, were inspired on my childhood memories and how they’ve led me to coexist with the darkness that comes from the unknown. I specifically took my inspiration from the river of my farm, called Edelweiss, which my grandmother always said was a home for elves, and a childhood story I mentioned previously, which showed drawings of gnomes that haunted me forever. It was until I began to shape my identity that I realized that these memories were a part of me and I soon became eager to share them with the world. I intended for the viewer to see the darkness or unknown I portrayed, not as something negative, but as something magical. To understand that it’s acceptable to fear it, because the more one fears it, the more one understands that humans know nothing in a world full of everything.

            For the collection as a whole, I used contrast to call the viewers attention and communicate the powerful encounter of humans and the unknown. For the arrangement of my works, I grouped the artworks that were most related or had a visual harmony together. My assigned exhibition wall was green, so I placed the artworks with predominant warm colors over the green wall and positioned my other artworks over a black fabric to avoid distraction. Finally, I sought for viewers of my exhibition to look at my artwork with different eyes, and try to break the connotations they had developed regarding the fear of the unknown.  

Studio Work

Coexisting by Lucienne Sauter

Linocut print on wood panel

This piece represents a little girl with a gnome peaking behind her. I was inspire by my chilhood book "Gnomes", written by Will Huygen. The artwork represents the fear of oneself and the fear of being alone.  Ironically, the shadow belong to the gnome, which suggests an alteration in human's perception.

Edelweiss by Lucienne Sauter

watercolor and ink on watercolor paper

34.5 x 25.5 in

The artwork represents the scenary of a river surrounded by forest,. I was inspired by the river of my farm, specifically by the magic it evokes.  The river represents the fear of depth, depth of the forest and the water, depth of life in a particular space and situacion, depth of soul.  The colors in the background give the illusion of antiquesness and mist, which contrast greately with the black ink.

Colonization: Impotence by Lucienne Sauter

Acrylics on canvas 18 x 24 in

This work despicts the Spanich colonization of the mericas. It portrays a confrontation between an American Indian and a horse he wishes to dominate. The artwork represents the impotence of both, nature being threatened by humans and humans thinking they can control it.

It's coming by Lucienne Sauter

Oil on canvas 14 x 11 inches

 The facial expresssion of the subject represents the fear of not knowing what is coming and, meanwhile, watching someone who does know.  Shades take place in the left side of the portrait, which is also to where the eyes are lookin to; this simbolizes the darness that is approaching and the smile showns the eagerness with which the subject is expecting it.

Line of thoughts by Lucienne Sauter

Video edition

This work is a lens-bases project done in iMovie.  I was inspaired by a recent experience at Samara beach Costa Rica.  I carefully follow my line of thoughts while observing the ocean.  The video includes pictures and video clips, some which I cite and othes I took myself.  Using effects such as image coloring and trasitions I sought to simulate my mindas as it thought and imagine.  The video representa a certain fear of the present, which ultimately evolves into the need to escate it.

Mestizo is Born by Lucienne Sauter

Wax carving

I was inspired by the other two artwoks of the colonization subtheme and by muy own descendants of mestizos.  I used ceramic tools to carve the candle. The color of the wax represnt the brick-like color of American Indians, a color that shouts "earth" and "fire"

Still Life by Lucienne Sauter

Acrylics on canvas 16 x 20 in

This still life was  was my first work in acrylic paints. I was inspired by the works of Dutch painters: Willian Kalf and Pieter Claesz mostly known for their Vanitas.  The still life represents a shelf in my house. I used darch shades of cool and warm colors to give the impression of antiqueness and dust.  

DANIEL ROTHE IB Visual Arts 2016 Lincoln School Costa Rica

The artists statement

by Daniel Rothe

Violence has been a huge impact in today’s society. This affects many artists around the globe every day problematic. Being a member of the IB program has opened my eyes into bigger and broader ideas. As someone who lives in a society where this issue is present, I believe that it is important to takes violence very seriously. For this reason I decided to create a body of work that expresses such idea. For example, the piece, “The girl behind the wires.”, I decided to use vibrant colors such as red, orange and yellow that can be connected easily with violence.  I strongly support the idea that it is my duty as an artist to call for a change.

            My body of work connect with each other in many ways, first of all every each of them contain different types of warm colors such as red, orange and yellow. These colors were chosen because it is taken as an example for violence. Violence throughout the world has existed since many decades ago and red Works as a symbol for all of the human blood that is lost in battles around the world. “Behind the wires” is a sculpture on top of a blank canvas, this works as a great example for this, I decided to use the female body because now a days women are discriminated because of the way they are, the way in which they dress, how they look, if they are fat or skinny and more. All of this comes together to how society has changed through these recent years and women are each day affected by this “war”. “Nature metropolis” is a series of 4 prints that emphasizes how human beings have destroyed planet earths nature because of the need of infrastructure expansion but people have not realized that we only got one planet earth and it has to be protected to all costs and behind of this they’re always conflicts that result to death and violence.

            The body of work is exhibited in a way that helps the theme stand out. It goes from the biggest artworks to the smallest ones, this was made like this because violence always happens because bigger things, people or other affect the smallest ones, I surely know that my artworks will make the viewer change the way in which he observes the world. 

Studio Work

Behind the wires by Daniel Rothe

Paper pulp and wire 11 x 14 x 2 in

Being behind the wires is a very delicate and tough moment for someone. This happens because of the way human beings resolve things through the use of violence intsead of peace.

Duality by Daniel Rothe

Acrylics on canvas  16 x 20 in

This artwork represents violence through duality. Rather than using a classic black and white duality, I used an improvisation of brushtrokes juxtaposed with a clean, white canvas. This represents how violence has changed recently because of the new conflicts around the globe.

Nature metropolis by Dnaiel Rothe

Linocut print on paper 11.5 x 17.5 in

As an 18-year-old boy who’s interested in planet earth’s daily news I’ve realized different events that overcome to conflicts, negative externalities and more. I take into deep consideration of how human beings have affected global nature. Many people don’t realize how plants, trees, animals and more are starting to die and it’s time for them to take action and resolve this problem.

Fallen leaf by Daniel Rothe

Water color markers on water color paper 11.5 x 19.5 in

Flowers are commonly known for their authentic beauty. However, in this watercolor artwork I portray flowers with dull colors and disturbed stains to represent the constant violence in the world that destroys the beauty of tranquility.

Exhibition setting

DIANA ROJAS IB Visual Arts 2016 Lincoln School Costa Rica

The Artist Statement

by Diana Rojas

My body of artwork has been shaped and changed through the course of the year. However, it all relates to society's labeling of people. This was influenced by the fashion world, by researching urban tribes — punks, hipsters, ext. and Coco Chanel’s Biography. By comparing fashion with labels I understood that people in a way just want to fit in society, so they prefer to avoid who they are so they can fit in because they want to have an identity. These people have different personalities and Coco is one with a strong personality who broke with all of society’s boundaries. All my works are a reflection on people’s feelings and frustrations against labels and marketing, my mannequin installation, the Lino prints, my paintings, and photography. 

Major issues such as feelings and frustrations are reflected in my artworks. My ‘Screaming from the inside’, ‘The balance of labels’ and ‘Hiding behind labels’ are some of my artworks in which I wanted to depict the frustration people have by not allowing themselves to be true who they are, they just want to belong somewhere. I wanted the meaning of all of my artworks to show all the observations I did — my classmates, etc. I used myself to reflect on my artworks to show my feelings towards the topic. I tried to keep the negative spaces with blue tones so every artwork has a correlation. Many of my techniques used are related with continuous line drawing sketches and also the use of photoshop.

My theme is based on observations on people and how they interact and relate with each other. Not only from observations of other people but from personal experiences and had difficulties with my own identity, and fashion has been one of the things that has allowed to know myself better.. My exhibit will be organized in a way where the artworks related with color and gesture. My installations will be mostly hanged and just one of them will be presented in a separated area. There will be hanging lights that I will share with one of my classmates. To hang all my artworks there will be a black fabric so the artworks will excel.  What I mainly want to convey to the audience is how the physical aspects of the human body and what society’s norms put upon people eventually lead to people’s feelings and frustrations of their own identity. 

Studio Work

Drowning my self by Diana Rojas

Lino cut prints 40x30cm

The first intention was in this work was to represent the loneliness one can feel if you don’t fit in a label/urban tribe.This printmaking work is done based on the weigh one feels that we need to fit in society labels. The variety of colors of the negative space represent the different type of people who have the same feeling of drowning and they are drowning in their own sorrows because they can’tescape from society's labels.

Frustration by Diana Rojas 

Acrylics 51 x 40 cm

This artwork is influenced by Pop Art. The colorful acrylics demonstrates one’s hopes and ideas, however, the light blue overshadowing the rest of the artwork is how society restrains people to be themselves, however they still want to fit in. The white face represents the perfection that one wants to achieve in society and the colorful negative space is based on one’s creativeness that is hidden behind the blue (the order of society)— creating the emotion of frustration within oneself.

Little toys by Diana Rojas

Collage on Mannequins 32 x 30 x 40 cm

While analyzing myself and trying to make myself “fit in” a certain category, a label. All those different labels and urban tribes that society builds up on I believe that, even though I am not 100% unique, I have a little bit of something big.The mannequin in the middle represents what I believe I am and that I’m still growing, and the back ones what society wants me to be. The mannequins were used to demonstrate that in society everyone needs to achieve perfectness and all be the same.

Lovely bones by Diana Rojas

Mixed media on wood panel

This represents the labels that society puts on women and the pressure that young girls have. This hidden message under the girl’s shirt show how society has influenced her with words. I was inspired by an article that I read about anorexia and impressed by how many girls are influenced with social media and magazines.The red represents the pain people go through while they listen to those words and the light blue (society&order) is trying to cover up the pain because they believe she is okay.

No escape by Diana Rojas

Digital  Photography 89x50cm

This lens based work is based on Coco Chanel as well. Her limitations were the ones that didn’t allow her to excel and be herself, until the end she realized she could break society boundaries on labels. These photographs are based on the idea of trying to escape the labels and ideas that society give us. The fog is used to represent the blindness we have within ourselves and the glass is the representation in the small bubble that we can't escape.

Screming from the inside by Diana Rojas

Digital Photography & Photoshop

Size: 52x20.8 cm

The artwork is inspired on a research done on Coco Chanel. The use of labels, how people are always pressed into always being in a group, and always following society’s norms are boundaries that Coco herself broke. The mouths represent the individual who is afraid to show who they are. The pressure under society’s labels are the main cause of this, showing how people are afraid to be who they are because they want to fit in a label and not feel judged by

society.

Exhibion setting