The unifying element of this exhibition is black ink made from oak galls and rust. In use since at least the 4th century, this ink has historically served as writing and drawing ink, as well as a dye for textiles, wood, teeth, and skin. Ada Van Hoorebeke sent her own version of iron gall ink to the following artists, inviting them to contribute to Black Decay at Pinkhouse.
Tine Colen
Black Decay
2015
Featuring works by Tine Colen, Elisabeth Ida, Kato Six, Fiona Mackay, Wouter Straetmans, Yoko Enoki, Celine Butaye, Christine Roggeman, Katrien Van Hecke, and Ada Van Hoorebeke.
plywood with laser-cut dyed veneer inlay
photo by Mieke Willems
Works
About
After her training in the medium of painting, Tine Colen (1985) felt the need not to simply represent or imitate the world, but to be in the midst of things. Gradually, the following elements became characteristic of her work: The blurring of boundaries between art and functional objects by creating items that carry meaning and can sometimes be used / working with natural materials in a cyclical process, often defined by their temporary, seasonal nature, as well as human-made materials considered waste / seeking specific knowledge about plant usage through the study of ethnobotany and anthropology / a slow and labor-intensive making process, rooted in collective creation / generating value through the way objects are used, gifted, and passed on / using public space as a workshop, where the physical work sparks conversation, encounters, and change.