Reviews
Maria Kuipers work reaches out and seeks an emotional response
from its audience by conveying feelings, thoughts and moods that are often
difficult to articulate. The work is abstract rather than figurative, enabling
the artist to explore issues of identity and personal history in a way that
is engaging rather than overwhelming. Instead of directing our responses,
we are encouraged to interpret the painting by recognising our own experiences
within its themes.
The “Transition” paintings are a rich mixture of marks, textures
and layers. They reveal an artistic path influenced by printmaking and textile
work and combine to create a personal language of marks, motifs and surfaces
that physically express specific feelings and articulate a sense of self.
The process of constructing an identity is evident through the layering and
contrast of different painterly textures. Glossy glazed areas resonate against
spaces of bold brushstrokes; sandpaper samples are placed within roughly
sculpted blocks of paint. The resulting collage of paint gives the canvas’s
a vitality and honesty that hums with the exploits of their artistic adventure
and lays bare the process of creation. Although the editing process is integral
to the “Transition” series it does not obscure the previous layers,
and allows us to view the paintings as constantly evolving pieces. The windows
that remain disclose hidden parts, showing the histories of the canvas and
of the emotional experiences that inspired them.
The great emotional power of Maria’s work stems from this desire to
create work intuitively. Rather than making conscious decisions about what
to paint, Maria is guided by her emotions and moods, so that what is communicated
is more visceral and reaches out to our inner selves. The use of stitching
and stitching motifs in the “Transition” series provides a powerful
healing presence that contributes to an overall sense of wholeness and balance.
Maria’s belief that stitching is a “restorative and reparative” process
gives her work an uplifting quality that suggests an affirmation of self
identity. Her desire to combine different media and techniques is symptomatic
of her acceptance of herself personally and artistically: “I’ve
given myself permission to be me on canvas. If I want to stitch on it I will.
I have allowed myself to make my own choices. I have the space to be me and
explore more. That’s why the work speaks more. It’s got more
presence than any work I’ve done before. I follow my instincts.”
Jane Nash, April 2003
Freelance Arts Educator and Writer
