KARLALISE HORSTMANS

My art works are a diary of my attendance, an emotional outlet for my creative energy and an expression of my experience in the world. 

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INSPIRATION

Language: As a former lawyer, I have a love of words, language, text, symbols, codes, and patterns - the visual representations of shared meaning. These tend to show up in my works, often forming an intersection between expressive realism and abstraction.

 

Sensory Experience: I'm highly sensitive (in a neurological sense), so sensory experiences can be slightly overwhelming (light, color, smell, sound, touch, taste, movement). My artworks are usually expressionist, reflecting my heightened or exaggerated experience of reality. My studio practice is the antidote to crowds, stimulus and sensory overload. It is crucial to my physical, psychological and emotional well-being. 

 

Nature: Nature is important for my wellness and it features a lot in my work. In particular, I adore organic and floral forms, like the noble sweep of magnolia petals and the astonishing architecture of orchids. I also adore the spaciousness of etheric realms like sky, outer space and the quantum void.

My desire for a sense of spaciousness leads me to explore works of monumental size and the patterns and energy of grounds (background, foreground, surfaces) and negative spaces in my works.

 

Figuration: I enjoy conveying contemplative observations in my representative works rather than reaching for a strict physical likeness with object or person. I reach for the truth of a moment by intuitive and sensory means, a conversation between process, material and presence. 

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Interplay / Contrast: In my painted abstract works and my sculptural works, I enjoy the interplay between structural expressions and ephemeral fields and organic forms, between nature or constructed worlds and abstraction.

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PRACTICE

My use of paint has changed a great deal as I have matured. I began with thick impasto applications, reveling in opacity and clean colors, creating a sort of hyper-reality. Now, I tend toward expressive realism and its intersection with surrealism and abstraction.

 

I prefer emergent forms and glazed layers, building dimensional imagery with undulating pattern, tone and resolution. There is often a broad swing between dark darks and light lights, almost surreal in nature. I like the paint to breathe, for there to be air in the strokes (often achieved with a cold wax medium to separate the pigment). I also frequently use iridescent glimmer to play with surface textures and shifting perspective. Generally, a closer inspection of my works (in real life) offers the reward of hidden details, inviting the viewer into a subjective and subtle, nuanced experience.

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In my sculptural works, I am currently enjoying extending the use of paper into structural forms, contrasting its light and dimension with the strength of works that appear to defy natural forces.

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I have included some AUDIO RECORDINGS discussing some of my painted works, which I encourage you to enjoy. Alternatively, please feel free to GET IN TOUCH if you'd like to know more about a particular piece, or to discuss commissions.

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