Maaike Delsaerdt
Maaike Delsaerdt
°1973, independent Antwerp based artist. Education: Master in Costume Design, Royal Academy of Fine Art, Antwerp, Belgium. In Residence, DAMU, Praque, Czech Republic. Specialisation Scenography, Studio Herman Teirlinck, Antwerp, Belgium. Specialisation Painting, Academy, of Fine Art Antwerp, Belgium. In addition to my work as a costume designer, stylist, set designer for film, theater and fashion I have always felt the need to pursue my own artistic practice which became my primary focus. Mainly painting and set design, but also creating ‘products’ to integrate these artworks into everyday life. Products, which find regular use in both public and private settings, serve as a medium for reflection on the dynamics between art and life in today's society and are a discourse on the disparity in Branding between High Art and Commercial Contexts. Through a series of paintings over the course of several years a theme is explored. Associations are important, as is the (re)interpretation of icons and archetypes in order to arrive at a conclusion, an overarching concept. Despite the fact that the initial focus is often on icons and popular elements, it is the intangible aspect that is particularly intriguing for me. This intangible aspect is, by its very nature, largely non-tangible and abstract. The substance consists of an imperceptible combination that produces a particular effect. The evolution of these icons and the shift in their interpretation over time have consistently been a source of inspiration. They've become a language for me through associations, a way to reflect on modern society and future.
'Maaike Delsaerdt's work is embued with echoes from late twentieth century American cinema, the brisk sun of LA and it's graphic shadows. Her eerie, abstract landscapes are the protagonists of her painterly narrative. Fusing the energetic colours of LA with Middle Eastern symbolism and imprints of ancient cultures, her work is at once universally recognizable yet teeming with mystery. Her work speaks of freedom, of mind and eye, of technique, of new horizons for humanity, united as one. Archetypes meet pop culture in a surreal world which is, like ours, stranger than paradise. A true believer in the liberating force of art, Delsaerdt layers different screens of color on top of each other, until the most essential, totemic imprints appear. Her emblematic gestures carry us through time and whisper notes about the revolutions ahead.'
Los Angeles
'The golden age of cinema is still alive there,
in the smell of jasmine at night
And the beautiful weather.
And the light is inspiring and energizing.
Even with smog...it's different from the light
in other places'.
David Lynch - Catching the big fish
