Sanne Maes - Human Nature

In the work of Sanne Maes, people are central, and more specifically the relationship between people and their environment. She is intrigued by the relationship between people and nature, but also by people in relation to themselves. The work often consists of multiple layers of images on top of each other; poured sculptures, paintings with projections, translucent drawings on tracing paper, but also projections over reliefs, shadow work by light and video in combination with still images. The video images, usually a modest self-portrait, are projected through another image. This unique working method, in which Sanne Maes has specialized over the years, has evolved into a completely unique visual language. Her work is created entirely associatively. During the work process, she experiments a lot with different layers of images and only stops when the end result gives a good feeling. What makes an image good is entirely intuitive.

One of her latest series of works “Lost identity” is about the human psyche. The human tendency to get a grip on its own psyche, or an attempt to fathom the human mind. The works consist of video portraits on TV screens; portraits half hidden behind Rorschach-inspired inkblots. The Rorschach inkblot method is a psychological test to fathom the personality of an individual, it is based on the fact that humans have the tendency to project their interpretations and feelings onto inkblots. The human in these works tries to become one with the inkblots, to merge, or simply to hide. Sometimes two portraits move through each other, this then reinforces the feeling of a mental struggle.

Another series that will be on display during this exhibition is “Oil Spills”. This series of works consists of exciting reliefs and sculptures. Dripping works with recognizable shapes and images here and there. A dark black layer of oil seems to cover almost everything. Organic materials try to emerge from under the layer. In this way there is occasionally a recognition of our own world. Crude oil, one of the basic raw materials in our existence, consists entirely of those same organic materials. The series takes you to the dark corners of humanity. An image maintained by our way of life. And so the circle is complete.