Celine van den Boorn examines the relationship between man and nature. In Van den Boorn’s work the natural world is carefully organised and mapped, every bird in the sky, every shell on the beach. On close examination the order of nature reveals the friction in its encounter with human beings.

In her more recent work Van den Boorn creates new versions of photographed landscapes by painting away the people, mostly tourists or soldiers- that were originally present. As a result the focus in the image shifts from human to landscape. The landscape separates itself from his function as holiday or war area and a tension occurs between the seemingly untouched nature and the still visible traces of human presence.

Reducing the presence of human beings in the landscape and freeing the landscape of its original character results in new images that suggests a more perfect world. Subsequently, Van den Boorn adds new layers causing friction between light, colour and photo.

On the one hand man has the urge to control, map and arrange nature whilst on the other man longs for the experience of unspoiled nature. This complex relationship between man and nature wrenches and fascinates at the same time.

Through Van den Boorn’s developed technique she is both romanticist, who idealises landscape, as well as ruler, who influences and manipulates it. By being both she questions the position of man in relation to nature.

Celine van den Boorn (1978) lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. After attending School of Arts in Utrecht, she has devoted further study to the main theme of her work – the relationship between man and nature – in artistic productions and from an academic perspective. Alongside her work, Celine teaches at the Utrecht School of Arts.