"I wanted to return to the artist within me"
“Above all, I want my work to move people — to have an impact on them. Fabric, plaster, foam; those materials, that tactile quality, working with my hands — that’s what defines me. There’s something unfinished about it. That very fine and polished look, that’s not what I make,” says Pieta van Twist (48). She is in her final year of the Tailor-Made Teacher of Fine Art and Design programme at the Art & Design Academy of ArtEZ in Zwolle. Her final project centres on ‘space’. Pieta reflects on her work and her experiences over the past few years.
“Looking back at my work over the past four years, space has always been an important element. When I started, I only worked on flat surfaces. Soon I discovered 3D work and began working spatially. That is the beauty of this programme: you are offered new options. I had never thought about using space before, but it turns out to suit me perfectly,” Pieta continues.
Women taking up more space in today’s society
Pieta’s final project builds on the theme of space. It explores the space women occupy in contemporary society. Although society is no longer strictly divided into men and women, she still sees many examples where women take up little space. “For example, men might sit with their legs wide apart, while women sit neatly with their legs crossed. Or there is mansplaining, explaining something to a woman in a patronising way. That fixed division of roles is something women should feel free to challenge. I know I am generalising a lot here, but just to paint a picture. I believe women should take up more space. That is the starting point for my work,” she explains.
Engaged with the subject matter
Pieta’s work does not come from activism or because she experiences these situations herself, but because she feels engaged with the topic. “I read a lot in the media and take that with me into my work. I chose the breast as my form. That body part has multiple layers: the element of seduction, the ability to feed your children, but also the fact that breast cancer is common and can have serious consequences. I create abstracted breasts that express these aspects. I have now painted one, made one from plaster, and perhaps I will also make one from fabric. It is like a family,” she says.
“I want to show duality. There is no specific message behind the work, nor do I want it to be fixed what I mean by it. People can decide for themselves what they see in it.” While creating her graduation project, Pieta has regular conversations with her supervisor about progress. “It is much more about the process; there is no checklist the work has to meet.”
Returning to the artist within
The artistic side of the course appeals to Pieta the most. She deliberately chose the part-time Teacher of Fine Art and Design programme because she teaches Dutch three days a week at a secondary school. She also has a family with five children. “About twenty years ago, I did a preparatory course for the art academy in Kampen. I had already studied Dutch. Then I had children and life took a different turn. Until my youngest turned seven and I thought: ‘This part of me still exists; there is more to life than home and teaching.’ I wanted to return to the artist within me. I find autonomous artistry truly beautiful,” she says. “At an open day for this programme, I saw that the autonomous aspect was very strong here. I wanted to focus on the art side rather than the educational side. And the fact that this programme is close to home is important for me.”
Back to the classroom
For Pieta, it was the right moment to return to studying. She has been a Dutch teacher for 24 years, has a family, and is further along in life. “I have life experience and can reflect, which is very important in this programme,” she says. “The course has given me so much artistically. I clearly remember that in my second year, a teacher said to me: ‘Trust that your head will follow your hands.’ I was so much in my head, and it was such a relief to hear that. I learned to trust that when I start making something, the rest will come naturally. I have experienced the joy of creating here, that feeling of being switched on. I am challenged, I discover what I want to express, and I learn to communicate that through my work.”