Portfolio 2008 to Present

Karolien Soete

It’s October 2008 and I’m on my knees in an old mildewy storeroom at the Guislain Mental Institution in Ghent, Belgium. What I consider providential circum-stances lead me to find a wealth of old photos; a remarkable, long forgotten visual archive of turn of the 20th century patients. In most cases the photographs I found were taken by Brother Ebergiste De Deyne (1887-1947), a pioneer in the mental health profession and author of “The Sensory Education of Abnormal Children”

(1922). My discovery and the ensuing research and study evolved into a work-cycle I have called Reviving Souls.

The Guislan inspiration has manifested in work of various media, including oil paintings on varnished Japanese paper, light-graffiti, video works, and

collaborative performance art/installation with sound artists.

Reviving Souls

“Shadows of Bygone Lives” Light Graffiti

Ghent, Belgium

Reviving Souls 1

“From Light” Experimental light portraiture installation

Reviving Souls 2

“Ticking/Turning/Dipping” Video Installation

Les Atelier Claus, Brussels

Reviving Souls 3

“Lost Sounds” Collaborative performance art/installation with sound artists.

Les Atelier Claus, Brussels

Reviving Souls 4

“Self Reflection” Oil on varnished Japanese paper

2 x 90/120 cm, 2x 35/47 inch

Reviving Souls 5

“Look Into My Eyes”Oil on varnished Japanese paper

3 panels 3x 90/120 cm, 3x 35/47 inch

Reviving Souls 6

“Look Into My Eyes”Detail

Oil on varnished Japanese paper

Reviving Souls 7

“Truth”Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

2 panels 2 x 65/100 cm, 25/39 inch

Reviving Souls 8

“By Rule” Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

4 x 65/100 cm, 4 x 25/39 inch

Reviving Souls 9

“By Rule”Detail

Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

Reviving Souls 10

“Dear Jezus”Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

6 panels 6 x 35/42 cm, 14/16,5 inch

Reviving Souls 11

“Dear Jezus”Detail

Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

Reviving Souls 12

“Boxed In”Oil on varnished Japanese paper/box

2x 40/30 cm; 16/12 inch

Reviving Souls 13

My recent most investigations are taking shape in a cycle I’ve entitled, Sensory Faculty. The works began as I was convalescing from a series of annoying physical maladies, and a minor surgery. In fact, some of my body issues were caused from

years of protracted exposure to the, not so healthful, chemicals associated with my various processes (involving paints and varnishes etc.).

Besides a focus on broader notions of sense perception, and sense memory, the specifically limiting (medical doctor prescribed) factor of wearing a protective mask began to feedback, to influence, my work. I then began to inquire about the cause and effect when limiting, or conversely over stimulating, other senses while I paint.

In concert with the painted works I have explored the theme, more allegorically perhaps, with animated stop motion murals and a recently begun ‘live cinema’

camera obscura installation.

Sensory Faculty

“Touch”2x 120/80 cm; 2x 31/47 inch

“Smell”2x 120/80 cm; 2x 31/47 inch

Sensory Faculty 1

“Touch”Detail

Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

Sensory Faculty 2

“Hearing”2x 120/80 cm; 2x 31/47 inch

“Sight”2x 100/80 cm; 2x 31/40 inch

Sensory Faculty 3

“Sight”Detail

Oil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

Sensory Faculty 4

“No Title”Oil on varnished Japanese paper

3x 100/80 cm; 2x 31/40 inch

Sensory Faculty 5

DetailOil on varnished Japanese paper/wood

Sensory Faculty 6

“No Title”Oilpaint on varnished Japanese paper/wood

190/63cm; 75/25 inch

Sensory Faculty 7

“Crows” Mural stopmotion (frames)

Sensory Faculty 8

Shadow Portraits (test)

Sensory Faculty 9

“Claritas Obscura”Live cinema camera obscura installation

work in progress

Sensory Faculty 10