Are you where you want to be? — LENA DEWAEGENAERE

ARE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?, 2018

I’m here now

Despite what is there

and over there

Sometimes I pinch my cheek. It is unbelievable

Sometimes I shut my eyes. It is unbelievable

I will send you a postcard from where I want to be .jpg — I will send you a postcard from where I want to be

Are you where you want to be 1 ZR.jpg — Are you where you want to be? 1

Are you where you want to be 2 ZR.jpg — Are you where you want to be? 2

Are you where you want to be 3 ZR.jpg — Are you where you want to be? 3

Are you where you want to be 4_ZR.jpg — Are you where you want to be? 4

There_acrylic and oil on paper_102,3x146,6cm.jpg — There

Where_acrylic and oil on paper_102;3x146,6cm.jpg — Where

I was waiting for the right time_acrylic and oil on canvas_123x163cm.jpg — I was waiting for the right time

I was looking for the right place_acrylic and oil on canvas_123x160cm V2.jpg — I was looking for the right place

Moments in the shade of a palmtree 1.jpg — Moments in the shade of a palm tree

What we are looking for is personal_ 75x101_acrylic and oil on paper.jpg — What we are looking for is personal

The attempt_acrylic and oil on paper_101x143 cm V2.jpg — The attempt

The search_acrylic and oil on paper_103,5x149,5cm.jpg — The search

The end of the road_130x175cmjpg.jpg — The end of the road

The search for the place where you belong and the challenges inherent in that journey are the major themes in this body of work.

I explored whether the place where someone finds peace of mind, happiness and a sense of belonging is an actual place or rather a state of mind. I asked myself whether we should actively search for that place or mindset or whether by stopping the search and leaving it to chance we would achieve greater success.

In this project I explore the balance between living in ‘the here and now’ and dreaming about the ‘there’. The word ‘there’ suggests something that is not ‘here’. It is something not at hand. In that way ‘there’ stands for our hopes and expectations. However when you eventually get ‘there’, it might not turn out to be what you expected.