Karoline

Situationistic/Naivistic Fantast:

I am a craftswoman, a setup bug, a worker bee, a one-line wonder.

I am a quotation-mad sticky brain, an out-of-the-box-thinker, a situationist, a moody, impulsive, reassurance-seeking, love-hungry optimist. An ideas machine, a vortex, a one of a kind woman.

I am a 34-year old female descendant of P.C. Skovgaard, a leading landscape artist from the Golden Age of Danish Painting. He is renowned for his frescoes on the walls of Viborg cathedral and most of his work hangs in the Skovgaard Museum in Viborg.

Art has been with me since childhood; from weekends spent at Denmark's Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and holidays exploring the churches and frescoes on the island of Bornholm, to a visit to France to see the Bayeux Tapestry.

I went nowhere without my sketchbook, pencils and paints, and could spend hours immersed in my own world. At school I drew pictures for my classmates to colour in. The problems came when several of them wanted the same picture, because I can never exactly replicate a piece. Early on, I began working with watercolours, acrylics and clay sculpture and have always loved to design and decorate.

My appreciation of recycling began at the big recycling centre in my hometown of Gladgården, Danish for 'The Happy Farm.' Every Tuesday, I could find treasures I could afford with my pocket-money. My classmates teased me about my second-hand clothes, but I always thought they were the fools. They couldn't see how stupid it was to buy new clothes when there were plenty of good cheap things around. Later on, my friend and I realised how sensible recycling is - because everything has already been TESTED ON HUMANS©

I have exhibited several of my paintings at various institutions and galleries in the Nordsjælland region of Denmark, occasionally in collaboration with my mother who also paints. I recently participated in the opening of the exhibition www.theglassdress.dk with a piece of performance art. The friend around

whom the show revolved has a doll which I used to create tableaux; the doll and I and all her tiny belongings. As a result of this I have been invited to participate in more events where I will continue the project. Also I am working on making a book with the now 4 storys I have made with her. 

I always thought that I would be an entertainer, so have been involved in acting, dancing, singing, makeup and costume. I still have a great interest in music, both creatively and as a listening amoeba. I am also fascinated by photography and the opportunities it offers for capturing aspects of everyday life.

I do not want to limit myself to any single direction or medium in the arts, but prefer to occupy a platform where all remedys and mediums can be used as needed. This, of course, requires space, time, training, skills' maintenance and materials. An artist is never free from work, because there is so much we need to achieve. We observe our surroundings and comment on these experiences through our work.

To dare to choose to jump is the artist's paradox. On the one hand is the struggle to maintain respect for an unprotected title, as well as for the prejudices it generates. On the other are the essential abilities to manifest, define and defend a project. It is equally a practical and a politico-philosophical undertaking.

To be doomed and cursed:

 An artist is born, then cursed and doomed to create art because of this ability. It cannot be otherwise. How much easier not to be an artist and not constantly driven to express commentaries on the world and society through one’s work. It would be much easier to find a place in so-called ordinary life, but the urge to create has an invincible hold on us so we have to - and it is important that we do. We have something to say to the world and society, and play an important role by expressing ourselves.

We possess an important tool; one that allows us to ask questions about the world that make the viewer think. It is important that we strive for a healthier and better world. Art is our contribution and because it arouses emotions, both violent and gentle, the topics we revolve around will always be contentious. But as my mother always said: "Taste and pleasure are different from person to person and cannot be Discussed."