This nurturing pink power painting called COME IN(SIDE) ME, symbolises a giant womb and was exhibited at BIG ART AMSTERDAM 2023. It is a grand conceptual piece about the self, mother, sex and art. Acrylic paint and plastic characters on hand-woven linen mounted on a wooden framework. H 305 x W 580 x D 10 cm, ca. 45 kg.
It is a massive pink painting which one can step into like a calming, healing bath. A loving world in which one dissolves. COME IN(SIDE) ME forms literally an invitation, to enter a pink h(e)aven. It is a universal mother's gesture to carry the spectator as if you are once again a baby and can feel the nourishment and safety of a giant pink womb.
The word SIDE has been omitted on the canvas, leaving only COME IN ME. The canvas thus becomes, subtle yet rebellious, a huge vulva where the viewer, can fictionally come in and surrender to. This minimalistic, huge, and soothing painting, offers a person the possibility to, for a moment, dissolve into an immersive work of art.
The letters COME IN ME are placed against each other, so the spectator does not immediately understand what is written. If the text would be read and understood immediately, the rational calculating mind would too quickly label the work. The likelihood of being open for the work would thereby be reduced. By making the text illegible at first glance, the viewer does not walk on too quickly and the canvas gets the chance to do its work: refreshing the viewer’s inner self.
A color study was preceded to evoke the right associations, resulting is this pink color with relatively much yellow and little white. It makes it a fleshy, warm pink and creates the most nourishing effect. The purpose of this extra-large painting is to reset the mind-set of the viewer.
COME IN(SIDE) ME can be perceived as a giant comforting, perfectly-imperfect mother piece. The edges of the canvas are curled on both sides, making the bottom layer of the paint visible. The fraying and the original wrinkles of the linen are also visible. This is a symbol for embracing the imperfection in ourselves, in other people, situations and life itself, consistent with the Eastern Wabi Sabi philosophy.
Video shot at BIG ART Amsterdam, September 2023.