About the mezzotints of Caroline Koenders (1961)
Born 1961, Nijmegen, Netherlands. Lives and works both in the Netherlands, Germany and Greece.
Education: 1981 1986 Artez Artschool, Arnhem, Netherlands. Specialized in printmaking.
Statement: The mezzotint is a graphic technique that works opposite: one starts from black. The image dooms up from the dark copperplate after endlessly scratching and scraping it. This way the artist creates a beautiful velvet print.
The halftones made by Caroline Koenders create the atmosphere of a mysterious world.
A world that is hidden behind the abstract images. Her work may seem simple, but in all purity it creates a silent world one wants to live in.
Behind the gloomy black the white is hidden, behind darkness there is light.
Prices, awards
2011 Shortlist Grand Prix international mezzotint Festival Jekaterinburg, Russia
2014 Ilse Boon Printmaking Price for Dutch printmakers.
2014 Printmaking price BAS, for Dutch printmakers, both Jury price and Second price public.
2016 Special diploma award Ural Print Triennial.
2017 Price winner Honarable Mention International mezzotint Festival Jekatrinburg, Russia.
2019 Shortlist Grand Prix international mezzotint Festival Jekaterinburg, Russia.
2020 County Price International Printmaking biennial Livno, Bornia-Herzegowina.
Exhibitions, selection
2020 Municipal Museum Kalkar, Germany. Duo show.
2019 Gallery SG Venice, Italy. Triple show.
2018 Curating the Dutch participation for the Novosibirsk International Biennial of Contemporary Arts.
2017 iMprint 3. Intaglio, a creative text. Malta, Society of Arts.
2017 Curator project Museum of Fine Art during the International Mezzotint Festival, Yekaterinburg, Ural, Russia
2016 First Printmaking Biennial Lodz, Poland
2015 Europe in the Sign, International printmaking exhibition, Cremona Italy
2013 Laureates of International Print Triennial - SMTG Krakow 2009', Dalarnas museum, Falun, Sweden.
2013 Where is Printmaking? In search of new meanings. Contemporary Art gallery Opole, Poland.
2012 SMTG International Print Triennial, Krakow, Poland.
2011-2013-2015-2017-2019 Participating International Mezzotint Festival, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
2012-2014-2016 Participating International Printmaking Biennial, Douro, Portugal
Artist in residence, fellowship, grants
1997 Fellowship and grant Printmaking symposium Matra Almas, Hungaria.
1995 Invited Artist in residence and Grant international artist symposium Mullheim, Duitsland.
1995 Guest Artist in residence printmaking studio Engramme, Quebec, Canada.
1997-2003-2006 Invited Artist in residence Printmaking studio O Ilios, Neapolis, Thessaloniki, Greece.
2016 Fellowship Artist in residence, Guanlan Printmaking base, China.
2019 Fellowship Artist in residence, Scuola Grafica, Venice, Italy.