photo Joris Hilterman
Charlotte Caspers (Ghent 1979) connects past, present and future through the materials and techniques she uses. She holds a master in Medieval Art History and is also trained as a paintings conservator, specializing in historic materials and techniques. In this role she has worked for many museums both in the Netherlands and abroad, such as the Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam) and TATE (London). She participated in various research projects at renowned universities and was affiliated with the University of Amsterdam from 2006-2016 as a lecturer in painting techniques. Her autonomous art unravels reality into elementary compositions and installations that have a unique and recognizable aesthetic. She has a preference for wooden panels, gold and mineral pigments and explores the subtle interaction of these materials, both with each other and the exhibition space. Central themes in her work are: nature as the basis of all that exists, the art of painting, and the communication between artwork and beholder. Charlotte lives and works in Bergen, the Netherlands.
“Caspers may draw on historical methods but her vision is rooted in the Anthropocene. Her landscapes tell of the erosion of natural materials, and of their slow history that is returning to art — via fossilisation — as a pigment, as a colour. In Caspers' panels, colours are far from lush, they’re not shiny smooth, but porous, granular, and layered - almost possessing a tangible substance and depth.”
Prof dr Hanneke Grootenboer, essay Beyond Landscape 2021
“With her thorough knowledge of materials and use of traditional wood and paper supports for her abstract imagery, Charlotte distinguishes herself from many other contemporary artists. With her, the history of the material and technical aspects of painting play an important role. With a contemporary formal language, she makes of centuries-old material knowledge something completely new, consciously reaching back to classical traditions in painting.”
Collin Huizing, essay ultramarine | citramarine 2024