Isa Tenhaeff

2008-01-20T07:31:00.000-08:00

Artist Statement

2008-01-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

[I am an expressionist]

With my work I seek to make explicit the common ground within emotions as an individualistic experience, be it happiness, loneliness, joyfulness, or despair. To do this, I visually juxtapose everyday observations, memories, as well as imaginary situations and historically given situations. In doing this I wish to establish an open narrative of recognition between the viewer, his or her own feelings and thoughts, and the feelings/thoughts of others within and outside of the direct community of the viewer.

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The following assumptions are incorporated in the above stated:

[Everyday life is a chain of interlocked experiences]

.I use whatever visual methods neccessary to show the governing, and intertwining patterns of thought and emotion that are intrinsic to and (re)formed by experiences in everyday life.

[Art can contribute to revealing the orderly chaos of everyday life and the relativitly of life in general, thereby enabling people to think about more encompassing and ultimately to have more abstract views on reality]

Visual art can (and should) offer windows to another version of reality. Possible sollutions: isolating images from context, inserting images in another context and/or visualising the inner structure.

[Art, and surely visual art, can play a defining role in making visible the commonalities and differences and can hence lead to a better latent understanding of the fibre that we are made of]

Emotions are unique yet in accordance with differences in personalities, social-economic circumstances and background or `social capital' as the French sociologist Bourdieu calls it. Based upon previous experiences and the way we felt during them, everyone develops their way of dealing with situations and every situation is different to another. Simultaneously, the ability to recognise feelings and empathise with others proves that there is much common ground in the way that people experience and feel.

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4.

.[All visual outcome/perceived image is relative ]

.Beauty must be unmasked. The way something is perceived is socially constructed. Running themes in my work are the impact of appearance and the linked theme of vanity.

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[All visual outcome generates its own laws and these must be made explicit]

Main tools: Visual Experiments, Cross-Over, Conceptualizing, Chaotic and Associative Thinking.

Artist CV

2008-01-15T16:40:00.000-08:00

Educational background
2008-2009 BIK (interdisciplinairy subject teaching for the arts/post MA training), Pier-K.

1996-2004 Sociology of Culture (MA), University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social Science (AIM), Department of Sociology.

1996-2001 Fine Art (BA), Royal Academy of Art The Hague (KABK), Department of Fine Art, specialisation in Environmental Art.

Exhibitions and projects
June/July 2009 Quantumvis V.

An exhibit showing diversity in concept and discipline within fine art/ It runs from 19th of June until the 24th of July on 2 locations: Galery RCDe Ruimte, IJmuiden and De Service Garage, Amsterdam. On both locations some of my work will be exhibited: a collection of small drawings in IJmuiden, and an installation of objects in Amsterdam.

Apr/May 2008 Group exhibition at The Michaelhouse, Cambridge
During this exhibition I will show some large paintings and drawings. Selected works revolve around visual experiments with memories, wishes and regrets.

Dec 2007 Co-organiser of Cultural Night Cambridge
This is a series of evenings combining different artforms with dinner. With this events we wish to offer an alternative podium for creative producers as well as an open place for a larger audience to get inspired & network.

Dec 2007 Time and Place, group-exhibition at the Rowan Humberstone Gallery, Cambridge
On show were objects, drawings, collages, paintings and an installation. The running theme in my work displayed during this exhibition was: perceived image and vanity as a consequence of perceived image.
Paintings are done on linen using egg-tempera and layers of oil paint. Drawings, collage, objects and installations are of mixed technique and materials, combining the traditional with the unconventional.

June 2001 HomeLand, Graduate Exposition at the The Royal Academy for Art in The Hague
My work was strongly influenced by recent pregnancy and child-birth. The work referred to the status-changes which occur during this life-phase, as well as to the changes in perception of time and space because of physical change and new limitations.
My work for this show consisted of an installation, which bore resemblance to a living-room, showing the following furniture: a large grey furry object, a table with embroidered paper, and a letterbox on legs filled with memorabilia. On the wall there were 3 big egg-tempera paintings. Furthermore there were numerous photographs, countless objects and a small painting on display. For some examples of work, view: http://isatenhaeff.blogspot.com/2007/11/looking-back.html and: http://isatenhaeff.blogspot.com/2007/11/tea.html

Feb/May 1998 Soundbox, group-exhibition at The Royal Academy for Music and Dance, The Hague.
I submitted a sculpture referring to the relationship between image and sound. The sculpture consisted of 2 large boxes, one made of broken eggshells and one made of glass.

Commissions 2001-2008
Feb 09 Mural (ceiling) design in Cafe Fonteyn, Amsterdam

Dec 07/Present Portraits for various clients. Click here to view a recent portrait

Jun 01/Present Purchase of various fine art works for private collections

May/Aug07 Commission of 3-d work: Memory, Portable, Box, private collection. For visuals, see: http://isatenhaeff.blogspot.com/2007/11/project-portable-memory-box.html

Dec06/May07 Commission of 3d work: mobile The Maypole, private collection. For some images, please view: http://isatenhaeff.blogspot.com/2007/11/maypolemeipaal.html

Jun01/Aug06 Design/Teaching/Other 1999-2008

Sept 08/Now various Art Education Projects in Secondary Schools in Amsterdam
Jan 07/Present Teaching Fine Art to small groups and private students
Apr 08/Jul 08 Teaching Fine Art at The Newnham Croft Primary School, Cambridge
Dec 07 Design and Execution of a Room-divider for a Therapeutic Practice
Mar/Oct 05 Development of a Tool for Art Education Evaluation for the KABK
May 01/Dec 07 Designs for Birth Cards for private clients
Mar/Aug 1999 Design of Educational Material for the Dutch Institute NIZW/Movisie

Selection of work from Exhibition Time and Place

2008-01-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

[Photographs courtesy of Judith Weik, 2007]

For more information about the exhibition please look here.

Artist Statement

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Isa Tenhaeff studied Fine Art at the royal Academy of Art in The Hague (BA) and Sociology of Culture (MASc) at the University of Amsterdam. Since her move to Cambridge mid 2006 her work in the creative sector has intensified, and she is now also teaching fine art.

In her work private observations merge with visual experiment, combining the traditional with the unconventional. Bound together by a seemingly effortless hand, her images take on an unreal and sometimes disturbing character.

Please visit My Studio for more information, or view part II of the statement.