Olivia Van Kerckhof

Explorations of Home and Space

The House: Between Skin and Stone is a series of oil paintings exploring how spaces influence human experiences. My work investigates the connections our bodies and subconscious forge with structures, viewed through a feminist lens. In my examination of space, I produce a series of paintings that reimagine architecture as a maternal figure and the female form, while recognizing the true barrier: the mind. These concepts embody a visceral quality within interstitial spaces, bringing forth the essence of flesh devoid of skin, separating memory from actuality. My pieces portray shrouded female figures, their bodies twisted, and their forms directly responding to the surrounding structures. I am intrigued by the androgynous representation of a woman who encompasses the roles of both mother and child, existing as both powerful and submissive. The inspiration for this series stems from Louise Bourgeois, who often explored the female form, intertwining it with objects and subjects of motherhood to create a transformative identity.