Love Island - Nina van de Ven (NL) is a publication, Risograph printed and published by Wobby.club, 2020.

Nina van de Ven is fascinated by symbolism, in the present and past and in all kinds of cultures. Her focus is on symbolism as a meaning of communication in various groups and (sub)cultures. Symbolism as a way in which religious, political, cultural or ethnic minorities express themselves before the mainstream or the power. And vice versa, how those in power manifest themselves vis-à-vis the masses or groups in the margins. She brings together legible and less legible symbols from ethnography and pop culture, among others, in her graphic/illustrative work.

This also applies to Love Island, a series of drawings that originated from a fascination for tropical dating programs such as Temptation Island and Ex on the beach. The tropical setting, the vulgar character and the traditional male-female relationships in this deceptive reality inspired her to create a series of characters and scenes with ethnographically inspired masks (now as a metaphor for disguising the true nature). By associating in a free manner, Van de Ven connects these figures with historical stories, local customs and archaeological objects.

A large part of her series is bundled in this edition. A series that critically questions us about consumerism and identity, dominance value systems and a selfish cultural appropriation.

Original drawings: pastel, charcoal and crayon, 55 x 73 cm.

Love Island - Nina van de Ven (NL)
-dimensions: 19,8 x 27,4 cm
-pages: 30
-language: English
-Risograph printed
-edition: 100

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