Interview
Hilde De Kinder
Hilde was born, raised and still lives in Belgium. Her motivation is to touch people in their heart and soul. She believes that the only way to achieve that, is by staying pure and sincere.
Nature, human emotions, and the thought that everything is connected within a spiral of energy, are her greatest sources of inspiration.
She is a highly sensitive person and absorbs every impression around her. With her camera in her hand, she takes pictures of what fascinates her, including human expressions. Sometimes it can take weeks or even months to finish one job. It starts with taking pictures, then many studies of the composition, followed by different layers of paint, until she feels the soul of the painting.
She paints with thick and thin brush strokes harmoniously, some parts almost seeming sculpted. In the knowledge that less can be more, she tries not to lose herself in detail anymore. She also likes to create a little bit of mystery, the fragility of her works can be found in the emotions. She is a self-taught artist, but the moment techniques were presented to her by talented artists, she improved her skills. She followed a kind of open studio with a local artist, and workshops with other talented artists from different countries. She believes that in the end, we all can learn from each other.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My grandmother on my mother's side wrote poetry and stories. Her father wrote revue’s for the theater in the Netherlands (my grandmother was born in the Netherlands). My great-grandfather was the godson of the well-known Antwerp painter ‘Frans Mortelmans’. My father was also good at drawing and painted landscapes. I have more relatives who are artistic, so my artistic and creative skills are no surprise.
As a child I could draw better than the average student, but I was also equally strong in Mathematics, Physics and Science. It is a duality that has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, I can live in a fantasy world and at the same time be very consciously grounded and think very rationally. Or although I can be chaotic at times while painting, my studio is very orderly and organized.
I do remember that I had a hard time deciding which direction to study, because I had so many interests and qualities that were very diverse. I think at one point I even asked to attend art academy, but my parents didn't let me make that choice - at that time it was not obvious to follow an artistic direction, most parents had different ideas about what they wanted for their children. Luckily, times have changed.
So I followed a general scientific direction, until my grandmother died in a dramatic accident. After that, my father was never the same person again, he divorced my mother, which also had a heavy impact on my life. I felt lost and went from school to school and did all kinds of studies.
Taking different courses of study can be a disadvantage, but it can also have a positive effect. I could move to a wider labor market - in my time a diploma was not always necessary, people looked more at the skills and abilities. Although languages were not my strongest skills, I graduated with a distinction in languages and administration.
As a child I often felt different from others. Later this would express itself even more, knowing that I am a highly sensitive person, which can cause some problems in life, but if you use it in the right way it can really work in one's advantage.
My life has not been easy at all. I lost many important people, such as my mother and father way too early, and I have suffered many other traumas, including several car accidents, that also have affected my health. There are many ways to process things, I think I can call myself a strong and positive person. Luckily, I had found a creative way to process with the traumas of my past.
In general, I've always been very creative, My gifts for a wedding or other occasions for friends and family are usually designed myself and always found to be original.
I also write poetry and texts for many years now, mostly to process things. In 2014 I found my love again for art, and from that moment on I started a whole new journey. It changed my life in a good way, because despite being limited by my health, I came into contact with other artists and took workshops that have greatly improved my skills. My most important mentors who have helped me to get where I am today are: Frank Kenis, Marieke Samuels and, last but not least, Alyssa Monks.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“It is not my intention to say anything special with my works, especially when it comes to social or political issues. But the funny thing is that some of the works I've made in the past now take on a special meaning with what's going on in the world right now, as if I made them with a special message or to say how someone might feel these days.
The feeling one gets with a painting is actually very personal and time dependent. For example, one person can get a completely different feeling from another when seeing a painting of a bottle on the beach, for the one person it feels very romantic (a bottle with messages) while the other feels angry or sad when seeing the painting (because it reminds him or her of an alcohol addiction).”
“I prefer to influence people as little as possible, so that they can experience for themselves what the painting means to them - even a title can sometimes be too much.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I don't follow trends specifically, I mainly want to stay true to myself and do what feels right to me at that moment. That may happen to be a trend, but just as well the opposite.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“In 2014 when I started painting again, I tried all kinds of materials and styles: multi- media with acrylic and water-based oil paint. In 2016 I followed a workshop in Seville from Alyssa Monks, and there I found my love for the first quality oil paints from Old Holland, Gamblin and Williamsburg. After that, I found my favorite, and until now, I paint with thick and thin strokes next to each other in harmony, sometimes almost sculpted. I like these structures and want to create something that builds harmony between the coarseness of the brushstrokes and the fragile nature of the emotion.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“Actually a bit of both. First I take many pictures, which I then edit, and then I have them printed. I learned from Alyssa (for which I am very grateful to her) to pre-mix all my colors as faithfully as possible like the picture. Of course I have to follow what has been planned in advance and from which I cannot deviate.”
“Because I am quite creative, and allow myself the freedom to improvise ‘a la minute’, there are parts of my work that deviate from my reference material. The parts where I can improvise freely, I do that, because I also really enjoy it.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Making art is giving away a little piece of our inner self, and my motivation is to touch people in their hearts and soul. Some works mean a lot to me, others I can easily let go of, but it's always a part of me, as it's a bit of exposing myself.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“At this moment it is one of my latest artworks ‘The unknown truth’.
I don't know why, but I have a very special feeling for this painting, that's why I entered it in an international competition ‘Painting of the year 2021’, and to my surprise, I was 1 of the 50 nominated paintings. I am very grateful to be among these 50 very strong and talented artists.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“In the beginning I participated in a few solo exhibitions of my own organization, despite my health problem, that was not so obvious.
For several years I participated in a local group exhibition, where in 2018 I had the first prize with the painting ‘El misterio de la vida’ and in 2019 the first prize with the painting ‘Narayan mi ángel del bosque’.
My latest exhibition can be seen here.”
Website: www.hildedkart.be
Instagram: @surasukha
