Collage / Mixed media
In our twisted reality, where much that is supposedly 'different' is filtered out, visual artist Ina Arends uses her collages to search for a new visual culture that does more justice to the diversity of people. By putting precisely disability and intellectual impairment at the centre of her works, she dissects, like a surgeon, our idealised illusion of who we are. She makes the so-called 'abnormality' the norm. She focuses on the awareness of our richness that arises precisely because of our differences, instead of the illusion of our bizarre ideal image that only leads to disappointment and misunderstanding.
Her inspiration ignited through a year of intensive work with people with physical, intellectual, cognitive and auditory disabilities.
Made in Heaven shows the uniqueness of human beings in all their beauty apart from aesthetics, apart from time.
Ina Arends studied painting at the art academy and began her career as an artist in Amsterdam. After several stipends from the Fonds voor Beeldende Kunst, it was time to pack her bags in search of new adventures. A trip on a ship as a chef, then on.. Read more…