Machiel van Soest

The starting point of the work is the skin monochrome, the representation of human skin as a painting; stripped of limbs and individual features, stretched over a framework. Both the physical and psychological aspects of human skin are explored in several series, categorized under the term PTP (Pressure Temperature Pain). These terms do not only refer to the physical functions of the skin, such as sensing pressure, sensing ambient temperature or pain from injury. PTP also refers to the psychological effect of these concepts. Pressure can be related to ideology, temperature to atmosphere and pain to a traumatic event. The series related to the skin monochrome include manipulated flags and 'systems' (P), paintings of internal organs (T), text works (P), as well as works that meander more around these categories; noise paintings, on paper, on screen and, among other things, ready-mades. These series arise simultaneously. A series can be shown as a series. A work from a series can also form part of a so-called compound, a composition, a phrase. The communication of a compound is visually tangible and not in language. The above description is neither an explanation nor a framing of the work. The communication of the work is generative, leading to multiple meanings, entirely depending on the spectator himself.