As an artist, I focus on the abstract and the invisible. The complexity of being human and the mystery of existence have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. In my work, I try to capture the elusive aspects of the human mind and the tension between consciousness and the unconscious. Painting, drawing, and printmaking offer me a way to respond to these unseen elements and to reveal their subtlety and nuances.
My working process moves between control and intuition. Each piece emerges from a feeling, as if it presents itself to me and I simply need to guide it. I work in layers, adding, removing, and building images that couldn’t exist without that layering. Embracing doubt, failure, and unexpected turns is an essential part of this process. Mistakes and revisions are just as vital to the final result as conscious decisions.
I draw inspiration from philosophical, religious, and folkloric sources, as well as from spontaneous visual encounters in daily life. Symbolism plays an important role in my work as a bridge between the visible and the hidden. Through my images, I seek to develop a layered visual language that resonates with the deeper layers of our psyche, inviting introspection and discovery.
In a time when the rational, measurable, and individual often dominate, I see exploring the unconscious and irrational as a valuable and necessary counterbalance. I believe we can enrich our image of humanity by creating space for the irrational, intuitive, and emotional dimensions within ourselves. I hope my work can offer a space for that.
EXHIBITIONS
Exposure, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (26 juni - 1 juli 2024)
Studio K - Amsterdam (1 maart - 1 mei 2024, solo show)
Fuse, Troef - Leiden (6 oktober - 4 november 2023, group show)
Death By Dagger exhibition, ACU - Utrecht (3 - 30 september 2023, solo show)
“Soul, mind, life soul”, De Nijverheid - Utrecht (6 - 27 februari 2023, group show)
Festival Ongeluk! Amsterdam (13 januari 2023, group show)
De Utrechtse Boekenbar - Utrecht (5 november 2021, group show)
Festival Dwaalspoor - Vlissingen (6 & 7 november 2021, group show)
INTERNSHIPS
Jonat Deelstra (February & March 2023)
Munir de Vries (May - July 2023)
STUDIES
BA Illustration – Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (2020-2024)
CONTACT
+31 6 81509606
lunavanderstraaten@gmail.com
Instagram: @luna.vanderstraaten
