Victoria Genberg

Biography

Victoria Genberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has lived many years in Switzerland, and now divides her time between Switzerland and Malaysia. After a BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York, she moved to Hong Kong where she completed her MFA at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The medium she chooses varies according to what is most appropriate for a particular project. What is perhaps most characteristic is her free-flowing, expressive mark-making. While living in Hong Kong, she was introduced to Chinese ink painting. This had a big impact on her work that resulted in a fusion of East and West sensibilities. However, her latest project on Narcissism explored the expressive qualities of photography and sound to communicate her message.

Artist statement

I have always been intrigued by the notion of dualities and believe many of us tend to characterize our world in those terms: Heaven and Hell, Light and Dark, Good and Evil. It is not surprising then that my work has coalesced around the opposing poles of materiality and immateriality. Materiality refers to the earthly domain of power, its use, and abuse, while by immateriality, I have in mind our connections both to the natural world that surrounds us and to all the worlds that lie inside us.

The link between these two poles lies in my strong emotional reactions to events I have experienced. I became sensitive to the uneven distribution of power when, in my first job, I realized a male colleague was being paid substantially more for the same work. I became attuned to how people wield power, and in particular, became very aware of the power of acknowledgment. Who acknowledges who is a good indicator of who holds power and who does not.

This is a source of many of the problems that afflict our society today. An individual unacknowledged as a child may lash out in anger as an adult, abusing psychologically or physically those around him. The anger of some groups at their lack of recognition by other groups can allow politicians to use this anger to manipulate these groups and feed them lies while claiming only they tell the truth and everyone else lies. By keeping the support of an angry group, they bully others who might object and thus remain in power. My work addresses abuse of power at a personal level, but also at the level of society, where I fear the consequences for us all.

As for the second pole, gazing at nature is a favorite pastime for me. Living in the Swiss Alps has given me many opportunities to indulge myself. I love intense blue skies, leaves that dance in the breeze, and moonlight sparkling on snow. It creates in me a deep feeling of connection to a more expansive reality, one that includes both our natural world and the worlds that exist within us. It provides me with an escape from the stress and worry of everyday life. Immateriality provides such a beautiful antidote to the material world.