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
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.
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