Isn’t it great?” she said. “The worst brings out the best in us.”

Dr. Edith Eva Eger

(author of The Choice and
Holocaust survivor)

Why do I paint / Artist Statement

For me, painting is an ode to everything that seems ‘ordinary’, to details that make life special. That could be an animal, a loving gesture, the resilience or humour of a human being. For me, painting is like poetry; it is playing with colours and giving space to my soul.

The vulnerabilities in life touch me equally. For those who are oppressed and lack freedom, I open my heart. Through my work with Médecins Sans Frontières and in district nursing, I have experienced a lot of misery up close: hunger, pain, fear, violence, oppression. Helping is at the heart of my personal legend. It is precisely then that it illuminates and gives me strength if I can depict the beauty of my experiences as much as possible in return.

My paintings are basically realistic. I often add abstract elements and symbolism, because life is more than what you initially see. Then I paint with epoxy on my work of oil or acrylic, for example, to express the layering I experience. Sometimes I use mixed media to support the image. After all, painting for me remains just ‘playing’ too. But…. my real raw material is ‘life’.

I sign my works with LaVoo. This is an abbreviation of my full name Lidwina Agnes Voorend. Also, it is a nod to my inspiring father, who named his company PROVO. That, in turn, was a nod to the protest movement in the 1960s.

Gallery

This is a small selection of my work

Ode to the woman

This is an ode to all the women
Who could barely go to school
Were put at a disadvantage by the war
Could hardly develop themselves
Had to work all their lives
Had to be mothers above all
Had to be subservient
Were stuck in the faith

This is an ode to all the girls
Who are still not allowed to go to school
Who are physically and/or mentally abused
From whom so many talents are lost

….

How grateful I am for my opportunities
How grateful I am for my freedom

Ode aan de vrouw

Beppie 50 x 60 cm – Mixed media on canvas

Ode to the woman

Ode aan de vrouw

Beppie 50 x 60 cm – Mixed media on canvas

This is an ode to all the women
Who could barely go to school
Were put at a disadvantage by the war
Could hardly develop themselves
Had to work all their lives
Had to be mothers above all
Had to be subservient
Were stuck in the faith

This is an ode to all the girls
Who are still not allowed to go to school
Who are physically and/or mentally abused
From whom so many talents are lost

….

How grateful I am for my opportunities
How grateful I am for my freedom

Do you have a question?

If so, get in touch and I will respond soon