Rolina Nell

rolina

acrylic on canvas

200 x 90 cm

2009

Rolina Nell

Voorbijgaand Mural

2009

Rolina Nell

playground #5

acrylic on canvas

40 x 200 cm

2009

I work with acrylic paint on canvas and make site specific mural paintings. I paint with acrylic in transparent layers subjects photographed by my self; women passing by, deserted playgrounds and laundry.  My work has taken over the subtle nuances of cultures in which I have been immersed.  My paintings often express my curiosity concerning women’s roles within a social and cultural structure.  The work captures and isolates images of ordinary woman and girls; so common that it is usually overseen. The women in my work get almost absorbed by their surrounding, but despite of this it seems they turn their back to you and do whatever they like.  It remains mysterious who they are because of the absence of faces.  Their identities are only recognizable and given by clothing, decorations and pose.  By using the absence of people in my laundry and playground paintings and the presence of women in my work I try to questioning identity.  The paintings summon certain prejudices and it fascinates me to get a grip of it while working on a painting.  Fantasies about what is not visible and try to see through this to make it visible till the different identities are almost alike and drawn into universal images and than have the pleasure of discovering that these can be changed by minor painting interventions. In spite of the colorful forms, funny garments and details the paintings also have a feeling of sadness.  The obvious absence of people or the presence of a woman, who seems to become assimilated, brings up emptiness and solitude.  My interest in unraveling the existence of ordinary things generally invokes a feeling of emptiness and a sad look on the past or unfulfilled desires.

artist statement: