Suus Kooijman her paintings possess a transparent and almost immaterial quality through the use of beeswax. This gives the work the presence of a wall object rather than that of a traditional painting. Warm beeswax, mixed with pigments, flows into and over itself, creating an image that gradually unfolds over time. At the beginning of the process, the direction is often still undefined; it is the material itself that guides her and determines the course of the work.
Images that do not immediately reveal themselves intrigue her more than works with a singular, clearly defined message. Her work invites reflection: it may raise questions, suggest a narrative, or simply exist as a vessel for emotion, thought, or memory. She approaches her painting process in the same way—as a layered form of making, in which memories become interwoven with the image.
The visibility of multiple layers is essential. The image unfolds not only on the surface but also beneath it. Through the transparency of the beeswax, the viewer is invited to enter the painting. A depth emerges whose boundaries remain unclear—a space in which something appears to be hidden. As layers are scraped away, images reveal themselves: a landscape, a field, a figure. She works through the layers, continually allowing herself to be surprised by what comes to light.