ARTIST STATEMENT

“The point is not to make perfect paintings. The point is to make highly flawed paintings that mimic our lives. The point is to see the paintings emerge from their deemed failure, in fullness, radiating beauty, covered in scars.”

Amataya’s studio note (March 2023)

If I were to distill all of the reasons why I paint into one word, it would be HOPE.

My paintings are informed by my own experience of healing from anxiety (an ongoing journey) as well as the recovery experiences of my fellow artists and friends.

I start my paintings with childlike and spontaneous marks. Gradually, the paintings become more layered and complex. The final layers are created at a slower pace, with the intention to bring the work to completion and for it to exude relentless Hope and unexplainable Joy.

As a process, painting heals me. As a product, I envision my paintings to be a messenger of healing and restoration for my audience.

Bio:

Sirimas Benz Amatayakul Kuipers (b. Bangkok, Thailand) is a Chicago-based painter and Expressive Arts Facilitator.

Benz received a Master’s Degree in Integrated Communications from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University and a Certification in Expressive Arts Facilitation from Open Studio Project (Evanston, IL). She is certified in Mental Health First Aid and is in the process of becoming a Certified Peer Support Specialist with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Benz’s most recent project is Safe Space Art Studio, a process-based art program to support the mental wellbeing of adults and children.

From 2018-2023, Benz founded and facilitated Dear Artists Project, a platform with a mission to create more dialogues around mental health in the art community.  Dear Artists facilitated a virtual artist residency called Dear Artists With Anxiety (DAWA) residency, a week-long virtual residency that runs throughout the year to showcase artists’ work while at the same time highlight and document their mental health journeys.

Benz was a 2021-2022 Hatch Resident at the Chicago Artists Coalition.

Her work has been shown at The United Club at O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, IL), Evanston Art Center (Evanston, IL), Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago, IL), Roots and Culture (Chicago), Oak Park Art League (Oak Park, IL), and Chicago Artists Coalition (Chicago, IL).