Born: 1966
Hometown: Hilversum
Based in: Senlis
As a child my paternal grandmother gave me a first serie of old family photos of my ancestors and previous generations. When she died, I received many other old family pictures. I have always found these photos very beautiful and they meant a lot to me. I kept them carefully in a box in the hope that one day I would put them under a frame and hang them together on a wall in my house.
Around 2012 I was fully thinking about which subjects I wanted to cover in my paintings. I wanted to give more substance and depth to my canvases and paint a subject that was close to my emotions and heart. I lived in France for 12 years and experienced what it is like to live and work far away from friends and family. At the same time, an economic crisis started in France, which made me realize that life for past generations would have been much harder than we experienced at the time. I brought out my old family photos and started painting.
I always have been passionate about existence and our origins. Where do we come from? Why are we born under such heavens, in such a place and time rather than another? I still do not have to date, answers to these questions that come to my mind... I let myself be inspired by these old photos and try to trasmit in my paintings, the images of the generations that preceded us. This in order not to forget our roots, but also to keep a record of the existence of our ancestors for future generations.
Sabine Rusch
What inspires you?
I love old family pictures, I get really Inspired by them, I paint the portraits of people who have been living before us as a reminder of their life.
Describe your creative process.
I’m always searching a contrast between the now and then. There for a use a Classic way of painting and a combine this with a more modern approche.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Modern Retro Paintings
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
I don’t know if they influenced the way I paint, but my favorite artists are Frida Kahlo, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
My eyes,my head and my hands.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Be afraid but do it anyway
Where do you go for inspiration?
Old photos, browsing the internet.
1 Collection
Education
School of the arts HKU, Utrecht
Netherlands, 1989
School of Arts Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
Netherlands, 1988
Education
School of the arts HKU, Utrecht
Netherlands, 1989
School of Arts Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
Netherlands, 1988