By using everyday imagery in the context of an installation, the ordinary starts feeling extraordinary. It becomes an invitation to the viewer to question the images and work.
To me, every new day signals the start of a brand new race, which I sometimes win, sometimes loose, but will always continue.
I often find the inspiration for a new piece in my direct environment. Studio utensils, pop music, street scenes and product packaging fire up my creative imagination. This process is clearly visible in my work; snapshots made on my phone, analogue photography, sketches or short diary notes on what I see happening lie at the basis of my process.
My life and work cross-polinate each other. My experiences, fuelled by an ongoing search for freedom and adventure, are the origin of my work. They form the basis for constructing installations in which paintings and sculptural elements present a dialogue. I have developed a visual language that is characterised by appropriation of imagery and texts, unconventional use of medium and an energetic approach to painting.
My attitude towards life mirrors my attitude towards making art. Starting a piece equals starting a new adventure.
www.elisevanstaveren.com