Katinka Lampe

'3545223' is part of Lampe's new series of paintings in which her subjects are tightly cropped or placed in arresting poses, often revealing just a detailed part of their body. The unorthodox perspective and framing of this piece acts as a device that shifts our focus away from the identity of the subject towards formal aspects of painting. By inviting the viewer to see beyond what is represented, Lampe’s uncanny depictions of people become vehicles to explore the masks we wear to fit in, and the challenges of looking past the surface both in paintings and in human relationships. Inspired by the chiaroscuro and candle lit depictions of Baroque artists such as Georges de La Tour and Jan ter Borch, Lampe uses light and shadow to create stylised and staged depictions of her subjects. The artificiality of this scene is increased by the introduction of clothing and accessories chosen by the artist herself, moving further away from the portrait as representation, towards the artists own visual impression of the model. These items, often repositories of personal histories and one’s own individuality, when mediated by the artist become catalysts to explore issues around the process of identity formation.