Sam Hersbach

Biografie

Sam Hersbach

 “One could see my paintings as photographs / snapshots, or visual cut-outs of a bigger world. The world continues to exist beyond the painting. Into the unknown. The creatures that live within my paintings are more often than not afraid of the ‘unknown area’ that lays outside of the painting. Other, (generally bigger), creatures live in this outside world. There is an interaction between the in- and outside world of the paintings. Therefore the peripheral areas of the painting are of utmost important. In these areas the creatures crawl in and outside the painting. Some creatures are so big that only one finger could fit within the image.  In the work creatures fight for power and self enhancement. In one painting called ‘masker pakking’ (mask taking/grabbing), a creature finds, choses and takes a new mask to wear. A new mask as a new ego, a new extension of your being. In another painting a group of snakes attempt to hunt down a large foot of an enormous person. Meanwhile a catfish is already attacking some of those snakes. And spears are going towards the catfish. However nothing would matter if a 'too big to imagine' creature would swipe everything out of the painting, with just one movement of the finger. I am also highly interested in technoself studies. Becoming godlike creatures through technology. What is it to be human. What is part of your being, or just a tool?