HIDDEN PROFILES / project & paintings
This is my story
I have been traveling through East Africa since the end of 2019 till now. Ever since I portray the ones who catch my eye immediately. In the last 3 years my painting project got big. I created about 35 portraits in my studio in the Netherlands, Hamburg and Ibiza.
Hidden profiles is the result of my research during the past 3,5 years. African Woman is the first series of Hidden Profiles. Hidden Profiles is the red line in my project.
I dived deep down into the local world of east Africa, mostly in Uganda. I escaped from tourism to jump into daily life in different communities in Uganda and also start living in it. A lot of new people I met and I started collaborating with different projects and organizations. My biggest confrontation was to face the poor circumstances people are living in. But the strength, the will power and the smile on their faces was and is still mind blowing for me. The empowerment inspired me to be helpful by creating portrait paintings.
When I am in Uganda, I am working as a yoga and art teacher and as a coach in Kyebando in Kampala and in one of the biggest refugee settlements called Nakivale.
When the pandemic hit the world, I felt a strong duty to support the projects and organizations I am working together with. In the last 3 years I could donate over €4000 euros from the proceeds after selling my portrait paintings. Soaps, food, clothing, washing stations, paint, paper, brushes, pencils and yoga mats were distributed and even salaries could be paid to keep the projects running by the locals.
VIDEO / AFRICAN WOMAN
A video about the beginning of my portrait painting journey since 2019.
AFRICAN WOMAN / 2020
One of the first painting projects i started with in 2020 after my return from Uganda.
Both paintings are sold.
COURAGEOUS
120 x 180 cm
Acrylic paint on canvas
SOLD
AFRICAN WOMAN / 2020
FORTITUDE
120 x 180 cm
Acrylic paint on canvas
SOLD
AFRICAN WOMAN / 2020
RESILIENCE
120 x 180 cm
Acrylic paint on canvas
One of the projects: KAWEMPE, Kampala
Madame Mastula Nakisozi.
This is her story:
She started Kawempe in 2005 after losing her dear husband due to HIV. She went for a test and she was also found HIV positive.
Sadly enough she faced a lot of stigma and discrimination from both the community and her husbands family.
This was for her the reason to stood firm and she established a women’s organization to fight the stigma and discrimination among people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, especially for women.
‘I have been through a lot but I thank God that I have already helped so many people who had lost hope, and this is disclosing my status and giving hope to them’ (Mastulah Nakisozi).
COLLABORATION
I decided to collaborate with her. In 2021 I could donate 500 euros of the proceeds. One of the portraint paintings TRANSITION got sold.She could provide 120 families suffering from HIV with sanitary and food.
In 2022 I made a portrait of her. Her portrait painting was exposed for 2 months in Ocean Drive Ibiza. Good news: The painting got sold.15% of the proceeds could be donated to her organization KAMEMPE.
TRANSITION
The portrait series of ‘Transition’ connects to the ghetto in Kampala, Kyebando. Part of the proceeds will be invested in an amazing organization called ‘You and I Foundation’ (YAIF). YAIF is a huge umbrella over many artistic projects in Kyebando to help and upgrade the youth in developing their artistic skills.
My biggest support to make this project possible and the opportunity to exhibit the full series of Transition, is in the beloved restaurant JEF GASTROBAR in Maastricht (NL).
110 x 140 cm
Acrylic paint on canvas
2020
