VAN KASTJE NAAR CANVASJE
2024
ALBERT NEUHUYSSTRAAT
Klik hier voor Nederlands
LAURA VAN DAALEN
In her work, Laura explores the interaction between humanity and nature, creating landscapes—or ‘scapes’—that balance control and freedom. Through painting and collages, she abstracts photographs of landscapes into new compositions of shapes and colors. This process results in worlds that invite exploration while remaining as controlled and regulated as the nature around us.
The story behind this artwork
The text from the resident on Albert Neuhuysstraat describes the diversity and beauty of the Schildersbuurt, where history, architecture, and nature come together. She highlights the unique character of her neighborhood, the mix of people, and the tranquility she finds in places like Wilhelminapark and her Tao club, where sharing and letting go are central themes.
Reading her story, I was particularly inspired by the core concepts: sharing, nature, Tao, peacefulness, letting go, and grounding.
These words reflect the balance between control and freedom that I strive to capture in my work. My ‘scape’ on this street offers a place where residents can reflect, recall memories, or discover new desires. The design invites calm and introspection, without full control over the experience; it allows space for personal interpretation and interaction, fitting the unique mix of the Schildersbuurt.
How did the painting go?
When I arrived at my box around 10:30, I was quickly welcomed by local resident Esther-Claire. We immediately hit it off, and she brought me a stool, a cup of tea, and a cookie. This gesture put me at ease, as I was a bit nervous about painting in the open space. The conversations I had with passersby were pleasant, and everyone was quite curious. Esther-Claire had also announced my presence in the neighborhood app, partly to stir curiosity but also to prevent any confusion or odd looks.
The painting process went well, although I had to adjust to the heat, which caused the paint to dry within minutes. This required me to adapt my technique. Around 15:00, I felt that the work was nearly complete, but there were still a few areas that I wasn’t fully satisfied with. I decided to paint for an additional two hours to refine the details, and I succeeded! At the end of the day, we took photos of the final result, chatted about the process, and even took a photo together. What stayed with me the most was the resident’s enthusiasm, and overall, it was just a very enjoyable day.
Fun to read – (An interview with the resident of the street about the artwork): https://www.oostkrant.com/canvas/
IN THIS AREA:
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER AWESOME PROJECTS HERE
STADSAMBASSADEURS VAN UTREG
FACEBOOK