The artwork was created in 2023 and consists of two photographs by Simon Bolz. The visual elements clearly show a red-haired woman in her 30s painting on a canvas with finger paint. She is in an old apartment and has an easel with a formerly white canvas in front of her. She has obviously spilled a little while working on her artwork. I almost forgot the most important thing: The slender redhead with her hair up is naked.
In each case, the composition is slightly asymmetrical. We see a scene just a few minutes apart and view it from two different perspectives. Once photographed against the light and once with the direction of the light.
The color palette is limited to skin tones. Pink finger paint is present in the works as a strong accent color. Pink could be the painter's favorite color. In any case, it is a classic color that has been associated with femininity in conservative households for decades.
The way in which the pink color is used gives it a slightly raunchy meaning. The dirtiness, the smeared paint on the naked body, could be interpreted as a sexual allusion.
The lighting mood exudes friendliness. The sunshine creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. The painter seems content and apparently does not notice the viewer. She is completely absorbed and does not look at the observer.
Behind her head is a white window and a dark corridor. The white window could stand for openness. We can also view her painting in this image. In the second motif with the darkness behind her head, we can no longer see her work of art. The finished work remains her secret and the painter herself becomes a work of art for the viewer's eyes.
The main idea behind the pair of pictures seems to be playful seduction. Breaking out of life and daring to do something that one would not dare to do in everyday life. At the same time, the painter does not damage anything, as she has even placed a white cloth underneath so as not to soil the valuable parquet flooring.
Her painting shows two circles, each with a dot inside. These circles undoubtedly symbolize female breasts and are an expression of femininity.
Seen in a cultural context, the painter is possibly making fun of too much interpretation in works of art and is simply having fun being naked and smearing her dreamy, slender body with paint. She likes it when strangers look at her because she knows how beautiful she is.
The artist Simon Bolz has never photographed a naked woman with paint in his career, before. However, he is known for his themed series, which Pink Painter fits in with. A series consisting of only two pictures (a diptych) is unusual for the photographer, but in this case it seems absolutely fitting. It represents the maximum reduction of a serial work, so to speak.
In an art historical context, this continues the development of the artist's serial style. He is influenced by photographic representations by fashion photographers and from magazine production.
If you try to interpret a deeper meaning into the work, the message could be to make people happy. In a deeply sad, serious world with war and misery, this work creates an antithesis. It is a break from all the negativity — especially considering the fact that Karinka is one of twelve models who fled the war and now lives in exile.
It is impressive that a young woman is so successful at pushing aside evil and radiating happiness from within. She is a role model for us all and reminds us not to forget to laugh and to take a positive view of life, even in difficult situations.
Final conclusion
In terms of art history, this work has not had a great impact. And perhaps that's a good thing. Because even in art, many things are taken too seriously and viewed too rigidly. A little more serenity and joy would also be desirable in this market.
