ENG: Society is a shared reality that people construct as they interact with each other; says the internet. Contact is made through interactions, group dynamics, desires and expectations. Based on our experiences we will have different opinions on what life is. The life that we live with other people.

Mack’s paintings are based on being and living with other people. Man in relation to him/herself, other people and the world. A complex web of group dynamics, connections, changes and moments of silence and introspection. With a compositional rhythm she translates the individual and his/her connections to the canvas, questions what life is about and wonders about the desires and state of mind of people today. Mack comes from a background in sculpture, photography and film. She’s inspired by street-art, philosophy, sociology and Antony Gormley. As a technique she uses pencil and oil paint on canvas.

NL: De maatschappij is een gedeelde realiteit die mensen samenstellen als ze met elkaar in contact komen. Zo zegt het internet. We maken contact door onze interacties, groepsdynamiek, verlangens en verwachtingen. Gebaseerd op onze ervaringen zullen we verschillende meningen hebben over wat het leven is. Het leven dat we leven met andere mensen.

Mack’s schilderijen zijn gebaseerd op het zijn en het leven met andere mensen. De mens ten opzichte van zichzelf, andere mensen en de wereld. Een complex web van groepsdynamiek, verhoudingen, veranderingen en momenten van stilte en bezinning. Met een compositioneel ritme vertaald zij het individu en de onderlinge verhoudingen naar het doek en vraagt zich af wat het leven met andere mensen vandaag de dag inhoud. Zij komt van een achtergrond in beeldhouwen, fotografie en film, zij is geinspireert door straatkunst, literatuur, filosofie, sociologie en Antony Gormley. Als techniek gebruikt zij oliepotlood en olieverf op doek.

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