"Realness" Artwork

Pippa FESTJENS

—Artist’s life story
From shame to intensity to light-hearted exploration.

As a child, I experienced deep rooted shame and social exclusion and I was pressured to confine myself in all kinds of circumstances. Being deeply sensitive to other people's expectations and emotions, I became a high achiever and perfectionist, always impeccable. I felt dead, lonely and small in my social convenience.

Later I started seeking freedom and set out on countless adventures. Travelling the world I sought for absolute truth in many philosophies, communities, artistic practices. I would always push boundaries and never settle in an identity, choosing discovery over predictability, authority and structure. Everything I did, I pursued with absolute involvement. People started describing me as RADICAL.

Through this absolute sovereignty I
came to a deep self-knowing and an even deeper self-trust. I learned to understand my freedom as an ongoing creative exploration and still shapeshift continuously. I never settle in a definite form. I roam through creation and rebirth myself with every breath.

I also came to cherish my sensitivity and receptivity: the emotional currents of our collective (sub)conscious express through my art. I’m free from concepts and philosophies, yet still driven by truth. When my wild child speaks, truth is revealed as the unhinged, bold and enlightening force of nature.

I deeply live my life and above all this love is what I wish to share. In the joyful play of my self-discovery, people tend to find a clarity beyond words. May you bathe in the sun and take part in my freedom.

—Artist at display
Most of my paintings are created over the course of several years and keep on transforming, as I do. I started capturing these layers on livestreams on YouTube and these streams have turned into performances in and of themselves. The transformation is the work. May it land and work through you as well.