The human mind exhibits great fascination towards various subjects, enabling it to detect objects or occurrences that remain invisible to our visual perception. A great number of people find the human brain incredibly captivating, as it possesses a multitude of incomprehensible secrets. This is something I enjoy about surrealism. By blending practical skills with uninhibited imagination, a distinct universe is crafted that prompts individuals to engage in innovative thinking. In previous times, there were few artists who enjoyed combining various images or utilizing metaphors to depict dreams. Through surrealism, we can delve into the depths of our imagination and contemplate peculiar and astonishing ideas that transcend our ordinary thoughts. Vadehra Art Gallery has a new exhibition called “On Wings” by Dutch artist Juul Kraijer. The exhibition shows woodcut collages that use imagination to connect two worlds in a clever way. Her vivid and intricate imagination allows for multiple interpretations of her work. Her work can be interpreted differently each time you look at it. The peculiar elements initially present in the pictures vanish as you delve deeper, revealing the concealed narratives and imparting a clear understanding of life. Her work is profound and requires a thorough analysis to understand it accurately.
Image Courtesy: Vadehra Art Gallery
Juul shared her inspiration, “So, there’s a collage artist from the past century Max Ernst whose work I really admire, and when I started understanding his work at my studio, I started identifying materials he used. So, I managed to find the magazines he used on the internet and I just started cutting from them, I found amazing pictures, like very beautiful wood cravings that no longer exist and there was very much imagination to find this material. Very liberating indeed.”
Image Courtesy: Vadehra Art Gallery
When asked about the process Juul explained, “I used to work in charcoal, after I graduated from my art school I was working in charcoal only. After that, I started experimenting with more mediums like sculpture, photography, and collages. I like to create contrast, it is a 19th-century technique, surrealism was not known in that era, so when you look at the image closely you will find it strange, something surreal, and that is where my imagination has come in. I have thousands of these images, and many of them are cut-outs, I follow them like memos, fish, and birds and I have a lot of images in my head also. Therefore, when I find an image in my head and the image that I see, I think in my head that both are going to work together. These are minutely drawn works, I used a magnified glass with a ring light and my optician had to make a special glass for me with which I can see very closely very sharply. I also used very fine sharp knives and small scissors.”
Image Courtesy: Vadehra Art Gallery
Through Juul’s imagery, our conventional thinking is challenged and we are compelled to feel enthralled and inquisitive about an extraordinary realm. She captures images of a model who occasionally exhibits qualities of both genders, while also portraying birds and butterflies as if they possess independent thoughts and actions. Juul’s juxtaposition of bodies can evoke various emotions such as astonishment, wonder, and occasionally fear. This is similar to what the Romantics did in the 1800s when they looked at beautiful things and thought about nature. The emphasis is placed on the intensity of our emotions, which is heightened by the conflicting mix of fear and curiosity. Our shared experiences are comprised of intricate complexities and contradictions, revealing the correlation between our inner thoughts and feelings and their connection to our physical selves. “On Wings” displays a variety of pictures, artworks made out of different materials, illustrations depicted on paper, and videos.
Image Courtesy: Vadehra Art Gallery
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