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
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