Page 68 - FINAT Yearbook 2012

JAKOVINA VAN HAERINGEN OF FINAT TURNS SPENT LABELS INTO ART
LABEL’ ARTISTE
Art comes in many shapes and sizes. We’ve all seen paintings in pastels, acrylics, watercolours, gouache, and even oils. Drawings in charcoal, pencil or ink. Lithographs, etchings, prints, photos, and not forgetting digitally produced pictures and of course sculptures. The expression of human creative skill and imagination is possible in every medium.
One genre of artistic expression which has kept a relatively low profile is collage. A form of art in which various materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric are arranged and stuck to a backing. According to history, collage was invented by Kurt Schwitters (20 June 1887 -8 January 1948), a German artist, typographer, publicist, and poet. Frequently used by Picasso, it was later integrated into art trends such as Dadaism, Surrealism, Pop art and mail art.
THE ART OF COLLAGE TAKES A NEW FLIGHT
Whereas most of the traditional collages are a ‘random’ assembly of different materials with an abstract configuration or try-outs for a definitive painting, Jakovina’s compositions are not. In the eyes of an unwary observer the tiny pictures may seem like painted landscapes, but a closer look reveals an array of bits and pieces of self-adhesive labels which have been meticulously aligned to form a coherent picture.
Why introduce this art to FINAT and not to the broader public? ‘It’s a logical place to start, as FINAT in some ways has also been the birthplace of the collages’ Jakovina states. ‘In my artwork I incorporate the product of self-adhesive label printers who are members of the association. Turning labels into art was an idea that originated when I was going through the discarded samples of the annual FINAT label competition, a couple of years ago. Labels which were usually disposed of after the judging and award ceremony. Such a waste of good material. After having carefully studied the various labels, I discovered that some could be reused. Parts could be cut out. Combined with other parts, they would form a new image.’
Whereas the label industry has been trying to find solutions for the collection and recycling of self-adhesive liner waste on a larger scale (see page 45), Jakovina has concerned herself with the question of how to help avoid even the smallest bits of self- adhesive labels ending up in the waste stream. Although her attempts are targeted at a small amount of material, it’s nonetheless worth the effort. ‘I don’t see myself as a world reformer. I know that what I do is not the answer nor the solution to reducing waste. For me it was just a challenge to see
Jakovina van Haeringen shows one of her collages
if I had enough imagination to give something which had become useless a new purpose or value. Did I succeed? You may be the judge of that.’
THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL AVAILABLE DETERMINES THE SIZE. THE PICTURE ON THE ORIGINAL LABELS DICTATES THE DESIGN OF THE ARTWORK
At the moment the art collection consists of 15 collages, but Jakovina hopes to increase this number in the future. ‘My resources are limited. First of all, I have to wait until April of each year, when the judging of the label competition is over, to acquire the labels. Secondly, not all of the material handed in can be used for my purposes. Consequently, the collages are still rather small: 15x15 cm. They are however set in a 50x40 cm metal frame with a silk passe-partout cover, which gives it an elegant and distinguished look.
A small number of these collages will be exhibited at the congress in Athens and will also be for sale. One is even reserved to be handed out to the winner of a competition to be organised on the occasion of the tabletop exhibition and involving the results of the 2012 FINAT Label Competition.
For more information about the collages contact Jakovina van Haeringen: jvhaeringen@lejeune.nl
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FINAT YEARBOOK 2012 |