New addition: The Holder (2023) by Susanna Inglada

A new artwork has been added to our contemporary art collection: The Holder (2023) by Susanna Inglada (Spain, 1983). For this work, Susanna Inglada used charcoal, acrylic, pastel on coloured paper. Moreover, it measures as much as 1 metre 92 by 1 metre 79. The artwork was purchased with support from the Mondriaan Fund.

Three intertwined figures in a lively scene. The tangle of long arms and legs shows that the people are all part of the same scene. It is hard to tell who is playing which role. The performance is powerful and dynamic because of the intricate poses and hefty physical proportions.

Susanna Inglada about her art: "A powerful female figure gazes at us, running while carrying several intertwined figures. They seem tangled together, depending on her as she bears their weight. Her expression is serious, and her hair flows like a flag or fabric, symbolizing a nation or a land's emblem. The other figures' emotions are unclear—it's hard to tell whether they are struggling or finding some strange comfort in the situation. They cling to each other, depending on this connection to avoid falling."

Susanna adds: "Her hair envelops all the figures, its complexity both binding them and creating the risk of collapse. I enjoy exploring this kind of ambiguity in my work. I believe a piece of art resonates when it evokes existential questions about the human condition and how we coexist. When I reach this level of openness, that’s when the artwork starts to take on a life of its own."

The Holder can be seen from 24 September at the Frans Hals Museum (Groot Heiligland 62).