About
BIOGRAPHY
Kim Engelen is an international artist, teacher, and former TEDx speaker. She has lived and worked as a contemporary artist in 6 countries. She recently came back to Europe from 2 years teaching art in China. Engelen is passionate about creating contemporary art and follows this passion already for 20 years. Her art has been shown in 24 countries, magazines and on television.
HOLISTIC EXAMINATION OF SOCIETY
Her art is influenced by her immediate environment and builds on encounters, (dis)communication and self-development. Engelen works cross-disciplinary, from doing socially oriented performances—to build bridges between herself and the rest of humanity. To deeply personal smart-phone photography—on topics such as loneliness. And YouTube videos—about, for example, learning a new language. She explores installation settings in exhibitions through which she seeks again connection and communication with the audience.
Artist Statement
Philosopher and psychiatrist Alfred Adler said, “All problems are interpersonal relationship problems.” My art arises out of my own shortcomings in connecting with others. In an allegorical way, I work with these shortcomings. I work with the inner thoughts, the body, and social (non) interactions. Doing so I seek methods to connect with people and expose disconnections. In the meeting, or absence of meeting, with others through conscientious reflection, development or deterioration can take place. More positively speaking or ideally, my artworks are about critical thinking, self-development, and humanity.