Suzan Drummen was born in Heerlen in 1963. After an extensive academic journey – Maastricht Institute of Arts (formerly the Kunstacademie Maastricht, 1982-1987); the Jan Van Eyck Academy in Maastricht (1987-1988); Rijksacademie van Beeldende Kunsten (State Academy of Fine Arts) in Amsterdam (1988-1990); the Dutch Institute in Rome (1990-1991) – the artist succeeded in defining her aesthetic intent as a subtle balance between attraction and repulsion based on reflection.
Reflection implies light, a subject at the crux of Drummen’s practice. Firstly in painting, where reflective, mirrored or translucent surfaces find their way into the interiors she likes to depict. Around 2000, however, the artist decided to physically manipulate light through object-based compositions. Hence Drummen’s use of unique materials such as crystal, chrome-plated metal, precious stones, mirrors and optical glass – affixed using pins. This perceptive play on material creates perspectives and scales: a macro-scale (from a distance), where everything appears ordered and coherent like a carpet pattern; and a micro-scale (up close), where the abundance of details and stimuli disorientates the viewer. The results are mandala-inspired experiences that explicitly seek to overwhelm the viewer. Floors, walls and even ceilings, sometimes all at once, are covered to reorganise the space around them, and become an artistic place of their own.
Surprisingly, Drummen does not plan out her intricate patterns in advance. She describes her approach as site-inspired: once she arrives on location, she lets the space – and primarily its light – guide her into creating in a certain way.
The artist has taken part in numerous international exhibitions, been commissioned for various public and private pieces and has seen four books published about her work, among other forms of acknowledgment.
