Art piece of the month: August
In 2024, dsm-firmenich donated the former DSM collection to the municipal collection managed by SCHUNCK. Each month, we select a work from this donation that inspires us, fascinates us or captures our attention in another way. For August, we have chosen a work by Tanja Ritterbex.
Tanja Ritterbex – This Is Where the Magic Happens (2014)
Acrylic on canvas
With her brightly coloured paintings and drawings, Tanja Ritterbex has established herself as a painter in the purest sense. She works in a rough, sketch-like style that immediately catches the eye. The subject of her paintings, as well as her videos and photographs, is often herself.
Ritterbex bases her painted (self-)portraits on photographic selfies, which she posted daily on Facebook for a period of time. Alongside painting, she creates photographs, videos and sculptures that explore female identity. Her work focuses on womanhood and, more recently, motherhood.
Ritterbex’s paintings are closely related to the tradition of classical Expressionism. With This Is Where the Magic Happens, she builds on Olympia by Manet. She often depicts herself on an exaggerated scale and in a caricatured way within a variety of settings. Behind the bold façade and apparent sense of fun lies a critical reflection on a society shaped by social media. Her work also raises questions about identity, including the representation of gender, race and ethnicity in art history and everyday life.
Tanja Ritterbex This is where the magic happens, 2014, acrylverf op doek