These new oils reflect a further deepening in Lamers’s study of the
human face and the individuality hidden behind it. The use of masks in some of the portraits produces an alienating effect but without any excess of emotion: the subdued climate that is characteristic of
most of Lamers’s works remains in place.
Kiki Lamers knows how to approach her subjects in such a way that it seems as if she’s crawled under their skin. In her paintings she has an unparalleled knack for conveying the search for what is locked inside the subject’s body language and facial expressions. Even the inner state of mind hidden beneath the outer features is expressed in her portraits.
Kiki Lamers has portrayed not only humans but also chimpanzees in her new work. The human qualities and the character of these creatures are revealed in her work in a refined way. Also striking is the similarity of facial expressions and individuality between the persons wearing animal masks and the chimpanzees.