Alexandra Klimas
Netherlands
Artist Statement Alexandra Klimas
Alexandra: “I want to inspire people to pay more attention to the ‘forgotten’ animals that are used for our consumption like cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. That’s why my models have to look like they did when they were alive. It is a tribute to their involuntary sacrifice to us humans.
“I have already for many years doubts about how our society functions. About our consumption habits, abundance, overproduction and the way we treat animals. And about transport, factory farming, the way we treat animals while they are alive and how we end their lives.
“I am not an activist, I am an artist and I make art. Art should touch people and make them think. I don’t want to shock people. I am satisfied when people feel more connected to this group of ‘forgotten’ animals. I try to paint each animal in an intimate portrait as lifelike as possible and to properly depict their unique personality and emotion.”
I also try to paint animals (mostly cows) in a landscape. I have the feeling that these beautiful animals are quietly disappearing from our landscape. That they are not hidden from our view like the pig. In the Netherlands the pig disappeared from view years ago. I hope that my paintings remind us to feel empathy in this increasingly hard world and help us to re-establish contact with nature.”
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 16th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
