Tarantula Authors And Arts' Inspiration for January
Stories Told with Eva de Visser
Stories, especially stories told often, are the essence of life. At least of my life. Tales, myths, fairy tales... my ear has always been open to them. As a child, I loved listening to family histories. Or to more general stories of the past, of very old times or from times that never were. Preferably at the table, the place where stories come almost naturally.
In museums, I came across echoes of the stories: paintings and sculptures. I asked questions about them. Who are they? What is he doing? What is happening there? The explanation was usually a story from the Bible or classical antiquity.
This interaction between narrative and imagination has a central place in my work. You see the tables where the stories still hang above the tableware. You see scenes from operas that have not yet been written. Dressed-up adults or children busy with their roles in a story.
I listen and that’s why I paint.
Influences on my work:
classical art, encountered early on
works by old masters
stories, fairy tales
Fascinations:
table as centre of narratives
birds, carriers of moving beauty
theatre, means of storytelling, appeal to the imagination
dressing up, small theatre, moving into other roles,
painting technique, the rules and their conscious violation
reflections, the exact representation that is not correct
mirrors, the window to other realities
human skin, depicting skin convincingly without using skin colour
- Eva de Visser
We are happy to start off this year with a spark of inspiration by the Dutch painter Eva de Visser who doesn’t rush into the future, but allows stories of the past and stories yet to be told to occupy her space. Influenced by the technique of the old masters, her paintings with black backgrounds leave us with a sense of mystery. We start wondering what has just happened before the scenes that were just depicted, what words were said, what ideas and desires are still lingering in the air.
As we start this New Year, let Eva and all the artists and storytellers coming our way this year inspire you to start creating your own stories, art and crafts. What lessons can we learn from our guests on Tarantula: Authors And Art’s pages?
Eva de Visser mentioned that she listens and that’s why she paints. She relies on her sense of hearing? Now that we celebrated the New Year, have there been any stories, old or new, that have been stuck in your head? Can you paint them, draw them, collage them or write them down?
As we reveal slowly Ms. Visser’s paintings throughout January, we suggest that you approach them with curiosity. What do you see? What do you hear? Now, sit silently and listen to the stories that come our of this dark, cold period of hibernation. Which of these stories still ring true, which are needed to change before spring arrives?
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We are off to an exciting start !