Society is a society of that what we create based on our programming. Our interaction, group dynamics, desires and expectations are the pieces of the puzzle of how we shape our surroundings. Mack’s paintings are based on her observations of mankind, their body language, positioning and interactions. With a compositional rhythm she creates a dialogue between the people in the painting and the observer. By combining creator and creation in one image, producing an action-reaction, she wonders about the desires and state of mind of people today. Her paintings are a personal interpretation of the world she sees around her. Mack comes from a background in sculpture, photography and film. She’s inspired by street-art, philosophy, sociology and Anthony Gormley. As a technique she used pencil and oil paint on canvas.

De maatschappij is een samenleving die we zelf creeëren. Sociale media, metaverse, politiek, overtuigingen. Wat is het mens-zijn in de hedendaagse maatschappij? Zoekend naar humaniteit, de samenleving die we creeëren is gebaseerd op onze programmering. Onze interacties, groep dynamiek, verlangens en verwachtingen zijn allemaal puzzelstukjes in de manier waarop we onze omgeving vorm geven. Mack’s schilderijen zijn gebaseerd op haar observaties van de mensheid en het visualiseren van haar vragen wat dit voor haar betekent.
Mensen, hun lichaamstaal en interacties. Met een compositioneel ritme creeërt zij een dialoog tussen de
mensen in het schilderij en de kijker. Daardoor combineert zij de maker en het gemaakte in één beeld, produceert zij een actie-reactie en vraagt zich af wat de behoeftes en gedachten zijn van mensen vandaag de dag. Haar schilderijen zijn een persoonlijke interpretatie van de wereld om haar heen, maar laten een open ruimte om voor ieder individueel onafzonderlijk te interpreteren.
Mack komt van een achtergrond in beeldhouwen, fotografie en film. Zij is geinspireert door straatkunst, aziatische kunst, Antony Gormley en Kara Walker. Als techniek gebruikte zij oliepotlood en zwarte olieverf,
maar recentelijk is zij over gegaan naar kleur om een filosofische laag toe te voegen in haarzoektocht naar de dynamiek en gevoelens van het menselijk bestaan.

Mack is an artist whose figurative paintings are based on a contemporary narrative inspired by society.

In her work she searches for the soul of modern man, his relation to the people around him and his moment to moment battle with space and perception, vision and placement, survival and in some cases death. She draws you into her imaginative view of modern absurdity. While at first glance she takes you on a trip into a simplistic landscape, a second look shows a use of image and background and a philosophical depth that allows the observer to create his own less than comfortable view of the world he inhabits.

The fact that she chooses to work into detail some of the elements in the painting while leaving other parts unfinished creates a visual depth that makes it possible to interpret her work at different levels.

TM

DH Mack is a painter in the true sense of the word. At first sight, her paintings are depictions of casual social relations in which people are sitting on a bench or waiting in line. As you allow yourself time to observe the characters you start to associate different parts of the painting in order to find the meaning of these relationships.

The form of the characters seems to tell you something about them. The boy in the centre of the painting that is only coarsely outlined may be detached from the other characters that are finely detailed. A shape that seemed to be part of the background suddenly pops up into the foreground and becomes a character that dominates the scene and you start to find symbols that are shared between characters.

Suddenly you realise that your leaning posture resembles that of the people standing in line and the way you cross your arms must be related to the way the old man folds his hands and looks at you. As you become part of the story, the painting begs the question how you attribute meaning to anything.

It is the hallmark of a good artist that she intentionally changes your perception of reality. After you have seen DH Mack’s paintings, you’ll see meaning in social situations in a new way.

J. vd S