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Natasja Knap | creative explorations on intergenerational narratives
it's all about stories, memories and emotions being passed down from generation to generation influencing our current existence
Latest projects
UNSEEN CONNECTIONS (ONGOING)
Exploring the emotions and experiences tied to carrying the name of a lost sibling. How do such naming practices impact family memories and the child’s identity?
artwork
/ recent work, older ones live in archives and, of course, they still do influence my present work ;-p
For it is good if the passage of time does not appear to us as something that consumes and destroys us, ..., but as something that completes us.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The wisdom of the sands (Citadelle)
FROM PAST TO PRESENT:
AN Artistic Exploration of EMOTIOnal InHERITANCE
Many narratives and experiences in my work stem from my own family history. The moments spent listening to my Oma's tales, I cherish. Each story brought life to my long-passed relatives. I also draw inspiration from the stories of others to gain a broader perspective. Every picture I see (I love snooping around in someone else's family album), every story I read or hear, has the potential to become an artwork. This process is both personal and universal, exploring human experience and connection throughout time.
The core of my work revolves around artistic research on intergenerational narratives. I am fascinated by how deep emotions, memories, and experiences are passed down from generation to generation, shaping our current existence.
My personal journey began with the stories and experiences I heard from my grandparents. Their life experiences and the emotions they conveyed, such as fear, loss and forbidden love, profoundly impacted me. These emotions, I realized, are often unconsciously transmitted, influencing our way through life. According to epigenetic research, they even affect our DNA, shaping our life experiences and forming our identity.
Through my creative process and research, I aim to make this influence more tangible, exploring how these impactful experiences shape us. In many of my artworks, a girl appears as a central figure. She symbolizes the connection between generations and the transmission of emotions and experiences. Often surreal and evocative, her presence reflects the complex and invisible nature of these intergenerational influences.
©natasja knap 2012-2024 | All images and texts are protected by copyright.
When translating my texts from Dutch to English, I am assisted by AI.info@natasjaknap.nl | Galvanistraat 28, 8861 NC Harlingen | +31 (0) 6 4632 4790 | KvK (CoC) nummer 56384246 | BTW (VAT) NL001450389B56