“…I combine an art career with raising two young kids under 4, that makes me very proud.”
Name
Machteld Solinger
Profession
Artist
Website
Who are you? What do you do?
I am a painter, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London in the summer of 2017. My work can be both bold and subtle, all with great consideration for colour and shape.
Where are you from?
A small island in the South-West of the Netherlands, the past years I have lived in London for studying, recently I’ve moved back to NL, Rotterdam.
Your style in 3 words?
Abstract, contemplated, intuitive.
Your weakness? Your strength?
Weakness: being too modest. Strength: my long term determination. Both weakness and strength is that I combine an art career with raising two young kids under 4, that makes me very proud.
What makes you different?
My awareness for insignificant, little things and my sensitivity for people, situations and places.
When did you decide to become an artist?
At a very young age, always wanting to create, making that drawing again, but better.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
That the most simple actions and gestures come closest to what I had in mind al along. It is about getting to that moment of concentration in which I can let go of all thoughts that just stand in the way, focus on one thing and just do.
A few words about your favourite creation?
One of my favourite creations shows a nonchalance in painting, yet it has a very focussed element in it. I like that combination where the painting seems carelessly made but actually it was made with utter awareness and concentration.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
I was blown away by Ho Do Suh’s show ‘Passage/s’ last year at Victoria Miro, London. Especially the large scale, flattened spaces that were shown on the wall. I thought that was a very interesting thing to do, a simple, but grand gesture. It made me think about how to approach the medium painting, and how to approach certain spaces and places.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
I’m working on a project for artist friend Giel Louws where he asked other artists to send in a postcard size work, the cards will be shuffled and randomly send back to all the participants. Another idea I want to work on is painting more literally in layers by combining painting on unstretched canvasses and covering these with painted perspex sheets. That way I can play with the reversibility of the process.
Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“
Enjoying life with my loved ones.
2018: Where are we going?
Not far I guess. Just in and out of the studio creating new work, inviting people for studio-visits.
When the going gets tough…
Go out for a walk! Just breathe and continue, one step at a time.
Your city’s favourite spots?
I love being around the river. Rotterdam has a big harbour economy, and it has gotten much more touristy over the years, so there’s always something to see on or around the river, like a big cruise-ship for instance. Or you can find me in the Rotterdam Zoo every week with my kids, especially its botanical garden is my favourite place.
Do you have a vision?
If you try too hard things might not work out. Being more relaxed in life opens you up to opportunities and surprises you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
What would you do if you could change the World?
Get rid of money, and finding better ways of exchanging and being able to get what you need.
Tell us about your future plans…
I would love to live abroad again for a while with my family, maybe the Caribbean area where I did a residency once. In terms of art I would just like to make more time to make art and connect with the art world.
Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?
Usually I would name a Fleetwood Mac song, but for now it is ‘Swing’ by Zero 7, that song really makes everything a bit brighter.
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