Dutch artist Juul Kraijer, known for her enigmatic and awe-inspiring imagery, invites us to step beyond the confines of daily logic and rationality in her solo exibition, On Wings. Her captivating work documents staged interactions between models and beings, such as birds and butterflies, seemingly possessing their own consciousness and unique deportment. Kraijer often presents her models in an androgynous light, contributing to the sense of wonder that pervades her art. These otherworldly compositions beckon viewers to explore the depths of their own emotional registers, eliciting primal reactions that range from bewilderment and awe to, perhaps unexpectedly, fear.
This artistic approach harks back to the Romantics of the nineteenth century, who sought to return to the embrace of nature and its inherent mysteries. Kraijer's work similarly emphasizes the intensity of our emotional experiences, drawing attention to the intricate interplay between fear and fascination.
As her multimedia work at Vadehra Art Gallery features a suite of photographs, collages, drawings and a video work, we converse with her on the philosophies of her art.Interaction between Model and Birds
Kraijer's fascination with these creatures has been woven into her work since her time in art school. She explains,"It is a motif that has been recurring in my work since art school. I am fascinated both by the beauty and by the alienness of these beings. I don’t work with domesticated or cute animals, I prefer those we cannot relate to so easily, those whose inner minds are an enigma to us." Her choice is a testament to her desire to explore the unfamiliar and to blur the boundaries between the human and the natural world.
Connection with Nature
In our conversation, Kraijer also touched on the theme of nostalgia and its significance in her work. Believing that nature cannot be lost because humans are inherently a part of it, she emphasises, "we can’t lose nature because we are nature. If mankind continues making its habitat uninhabitable the way it does, it will soon be confronted in a painful way with being nature and not something outside or above it."
The Blurring of Boundaries
'In my works I am not interested in bodies per se but only as vehicles for meaning or vessels of ideas. Most of my works use elements from nature, fused with or sprouting from the human body, thus blurring the distinction between body and natural forms, between self and the world surrounding it. The body is the visible container of the self; man's mind and being, the skin the outline marking the border between the self and the not-self', says Kraijer. Kraijer's deliberate blending serves to challenge the conventional distinction between the body and natural entities. It invites viewers to contemplate the intertwined relationship between the self and the world that surrounds it. In this context, the body acts as a visible container for one's self, while the skin forms the boundary that marks the distinction between the self and the external world.
On Wings is on view till October 27, 2023 at Vadehra Art Gallery.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 13.10.2023