Funkfest expo @ De Kromme Haring

‘Turkish Delight Bars’ and ‘Introspective in Blue’. 2024 @ De Kromme Haring 8/03-14/05

Nadine van Veldhuizen (1991) often depicts sensual, playful yet powerful female figures. Through her research in accepting and just owning her different identities as a woman.

We see her reflect upon her need to function in society, opposing the unwillingness to conform to old terms of our society. Always with hope in mind. 

Looking at ‘Introspective in Blue’ we see four figures surrounded in a deep blue. These lightboxes, made of  rectangular shaped cardboard cutouts pop each a posture out of their frame almost as they do not belong in basic restrictions made for them.The soft pink voluminous wavy contours in the female figures are created by van Veldhuizen with usage of gravity, resin, and glass fibers. Referencing Henri Matisse, Yves Klein, the earlier work of Piet Mondriaan. Think in the usage of color and shapes. She researches different  human characteristics.  In order to evoke consciousness about our different states of behavior and longings. 

Content related, we see homages to Louise Bourgeois and Pipilotti Rist as van Veldhuizen dives playfully but emotionally burdened with colorful aspects into the bearing of our mental and emotional human behavior. Positioning the vulnerable fetus next to a steroid looking empowered trained posture, her sculptures evoke a space where consciousness and reflection are acquired to understand our different types of longing.  By framing these visuals contradictions, Nadine aims to raise awareness about the outdated mental, physical and social norms in the familiar context we grew up in in order to be socially accepted. To now start to behave equally.

Though in order to quit thinking too much about our position in life, yet still keep having fun without the deeper philosophical layers. Van Veldhuizen rejoiced in the making of the ‘Turkish Delight Bars’ series, as we just sometimes need something soothing and sweet.