Artist Liesbeth Touw

Liesbeth Touw

About

Liesbeth (NL, 1968)
Paradise – How, a search for the definition of Paradise. In the world within me and around me I have been noticing a typically human activity: to knead life into a shape, with the aim of completeness and freedom.
A search, which - besides its successes and rewards - has also seen pitfalls and downfalls. In my Paradises, I explore the boundary between reality and desire and the blurring of this boundary. Together with what is seductive and playful in contrast with loneliness and alienation. During this search, I have been concentrating this contrast into the installations and sculptures that are physically present in space.
I am exploring this idea by switching from a two-dimensional perspective to a three-dimensional one and vice versa. In this, my preference goes out to abstraction, to emphasize the unattainable completeness of Paradise. But it is through the compelling addition of realistic elements that I can draw this unattainable completeness into the tangible world. Using a minimal language of form, I search for a surprising new reality. The residue of my search and thoughts about Paradise How are further worked out. I am partial to residue: I want to free myself from white noise and side-paths to become closer to and more aware of the core of unattainable completeness. It is my aspiration to raise this residue above that which is only the awareness of the search. Also, play makes up an important part of my search. To me, play means an activity that is not included in day-to-day life. Besides this, the physical act of transferring existing elements from multiple perspectives and, as such, to eliminate them in order to become closer to their aforementioned core.
© Liesbeth Touw 2011 … Read More

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: http://www.liesbethtouw.com

Work

www.liesbethtouw.com

Education

Short BiographypersonaliaLiesbeth Touw (NL, 1968)+31(0)6-40074895education2004 - 2005European Ceramic Work Centre (www.ekwc.nl), s-Hertogenbosch1996 - 2001Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, Sculpture special2006 Nomination, International Competition for Young Sculptures Premio Foundazione Arnaldo Pomodoro (www.fondazionearnaldopomodoro.it), Milano, Italy2001Nomination Young Talent IV, Provincial Kunstuitleen, Utrecht2001Initiator Co-operation Visual Artists PROBEexhibitions (selection)2007Work Period, artist in residency, Duende Studios, www.duendestudios.nl, Rotterdam, solo Expodium/Pitch!, Wathing Neighbours, PROBE, Utrecht2006University Museum Utrecht, Bodybeeld, UtrechtWork Period, Het Argument, OUTERIOR II, Tilburg, soloPremio Foundazione Arnaldo Pomodoro, Nomination for the International Competition for Young Sculptures, Milano, ItalyCentrum voor Beeldende Kunst (CBK), Gebakken!, ceramic-exhibition , Amersfoort20051ste Ceramicbal, Den Bosch CeramicCity, s-HertogenboschWork Period, artist in residency, www.cacaofabriek.nl, De nederlandsche Cacaofabriek, Sugar Tree, Helmond, soloFinal Presentation, Work Period, artist in residency, www.ekwc.nl, EKWC, s-HertogenboschGallery 300%, Kwets!, Schiedam2004Expodium, The smallest ArtFair of the Netherlands, Utrecht2003TENT., 'NA ANNA 1', n.a.v. Anna Verweij, Rotterdam ABC Treehouse Gallery, 'Because we were asked', Amsterdam2002Genootschap Kunstliefde, 'the Contradiction', Utrecht Intermezzo/CBK, 'Neighbours Grasses', Dordrechtpublications (selection)2006 Algemeen Dagblad, 7 november, interview, Liesbeth Touw makes art you have to feel.AEKI, Breda, Steengoed, artists and the stonefactory Bosscherwaarden, CBK Utrecht, AmersfoortLucasX nr.2, Artistspages, CBK Utrecht, AmersfoortBB Courant, 11 januari, Ceramicsexperiments, BilthovenAfteRouge, Piet Zwart Instituut/Revolver Books (NL/D), Rotterdam2005EKWC, Bulletin 3, C-notes #55, s-Hertogenbosch StadsRadioHelmond, Cultuurbarbaren, interview n.a.v. Sugar Tree, De nederlandsche Cacaofabriek Helmond2004BB Courant, interview 2 juni, 'Outerior': Art in relation with surrounding, BilthovenHaags Nieuwsblad, review 1 april, Atelier 228, Den Haag, … Read More