Kari Visscher

Home: Kitchen, Ontario
Title: Frontline
Media: Oil on linen
Dimensions: 96 x 66 cm
Website: karivisscher.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

Frontline is a self-portrait and symbolic representation of healthcare workers around the world who have provided care during the pandemic despite not always having the proper protective equipment. The left-hand gesture is a symbol used in religious imagery to indicate something important is being said. The mask is the pivotal piece of protective equipment being requested. The background is the hot chaos of COVID in its cellular form juxtaposed by the cooling of the blue medical uniform. The coat is worn like a cape hinting at the popularized hero mantra. This painting was created as a reminder of the need for national pandemic preparedness and as a memorial for the healthcare heroes who sacrificed for the lives of others.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Early on, Kari Visscher (b. 1982) knew she loved arts and science. Having grown up with a mother and uncle who were general practitioners, the medical profession was an integral part of her world. She straddled both the arts and sciences throughout her life, eventually completing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Communications and a Medical degree. Drawn to the visual subspecialties of medicine, Kari became a Radiologist and is currently an Adjunct Professor at McMaster University. Her Radiology paintings and associated research series were presented at an international medical conference and are published in peer-reviewed medical journals. She is an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists. Her artwork is internationally recognized in prestigious art competitions, including the ARC Salon, Figurativas, ModPortrait and the Canadian Portrait Society, and in esteemed publications, including Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector and The Guide Artists.