| Statement | Karen Santen, born 11-5-1951 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Since my start as a sculptor, drawings and paintings accompany the process of making 3-dimensional ceramic pieces and installations. My inspiration and phantasy is stimulated by this process. At the other hand, the big drawings become often autonomous works of art with their own spirit and their own imagination. These drawings and ceramic artpieces have in common that they are made with the same fast energic touch and have the same theme. Paint becomes clay, clay becomes paint. The drawings don’t belong to a particular tradition, they are big and monumental. Talking about risks: ceramic sculptors have to deal with the burningprocess in the kiln, sometimes the kiln gives you surprises and presents.. I like that tension, you have to concentrate. Clay asks more time and concentration. Making a drawing goes more in a rush, one motion. But with both art-works counts: it is good or it isn’t! My most recent work is inspired by an “ artist in residence”- stay in Finland in autumn 2003 and spring 2006.

Karen Santen, the 24th of October 2006. e-mail-adress: KSANTEN@HOTMAIL.COM