COME IN(SIDE) ME is a huge pink ‘power painting’ about the Self, Mother, Sex and Art. The piece symbolises a giant womb and was on display at BIG ART 2023. Acrylic paint on linen and plastic characters. W 580 cm x H 305 cm x D 10 cm, ca. 45 kg.
The immersive abstract pink painting allows the viewer to surrender to it and symbolically step into it as if into a nurturing, calming bath. A loving, tranquil world in which one dissolves. COME IN(SIDE) ME literally forms an invitation to enter a pink h(e)aven. It is a universal maternal gesture to carry the viewers as if they were babies again, allowing them to feel the nourishment and safety of a giant pink womb.
The word 'side' has been omitted from the canvas, leaving only COME IN ME. This subtly transforms the canvas into an enormous vulva that the viewer can fictionally step into and surrender to. The enormous and soothing painting offers someone the opportunity to immerse themselves completely in a compelling work of art and thus replenish their energy for a moment.
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.