About

Artist Statement

The central question I pose in my artistic practice is: What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to live and die, to feel and to be present in this world and in our body? I research different ways of revealing humanity itself. As an artist I strive to intertwine concept and sensual experience; to connect abstract ideas and fundamental questions to the temporal sensory experience of the audience. The body plays a central role in this exploration, being both a source of our experiences and a tool for interpreting and understanding them. In my artworks the body (or parts of it) is the interpreter of abstract ideas.

 

My artistic process is phenomenologic in nature and always starts with comprehending my personal life experience. It is not only about the inner, subjective life, but also about the interaction and transmission of meanings and feelings between people. I place my personal experience in the register of fundamental questions and meta-narratives about life and death.

 

The theoretical framework for my art is the phenomenological heritage of Maurice Merleau-Ponty. According to the phenomenological approach, the body is the first starting point for exploring the world and being within it. All human experiences, including our thoughts, knowledge, memories and emotions, are bounded with the physical body. That is why my work often enters into a direct relationship with the body of the viewer and encompasses his sensory experience. His body becomes a participant, through a certain position in space, sometimes through smell or tactile perception. Thus, every artwork I create is a manifestation of this fundamental concept.

 

To get an idea clear, I approach the creative process as a kind of game, with a logical structure, with specific rules that help guide my creative process. There is often a ritual element, with repetitions and restrictions. I don’t limit myself to one medium. I choose the medium and/or material precisely and it is inextricably linked to the content and meaning of the work. I experiment with different spatial setups to convey the meaning and existential experience. I create carefully composed, concentrated images that are visually engaging.

 

I work with the temporality aspect and focus on the dramatic structure of my artworks, after all, corporeal and human experience takes place in time and space. I often follow events in time, which I record on camera. I capture repetitive images that make time tangible in the small nuances and differences. Many of my works depict the process of degradation, deformation or destruction of the body, referring to the fragile, transient and vulnerable nature of life.

 

My art does not provide absolute answers to fundamental questions. It is an invitation to reflect on the deeper layers of being human and to see and represent life as a partially understood experience.


Roos van Geffen studied scenography at the Academy of Arts in Tilburg and at the Academy of Visual Arts Maastricht. Her autonomous work has been shown at Buitenplaats Doornburgh in Maarssen, Palazzo Barolo in Turin, Italy, Museum Tot Zover in Amsterdam, where she had a retrospective called Eat Love Die in 2020 and in 2021 the exhibition Surrender. Her work was also on display at Museum Jan Cunen in Oss, at The Human Impacts Centre in New York, at Fotodok in Utrecht, at Photo Festival Schiedam at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, at The Art Pavillion and Battersea Arts Center in London, Corrosia in Almere and VOX-POP Amsterdam among others. Her work is supported by Mondriaan Fund, The Tijlfund ( Cultuurfonds) and Stichting Stokroos among others. Roos’ performances were shown at European festivals and toured around Europe. Roos teaches at various art academies and supervises students.