NATURAL IMPRESSIONS

KRISTINA PENHOET
Washington, DC, USA
(DIS)CONNECTIONS, 2019-23
Wool fiber
2.5 x 3 x 2 in ( 6.3 x 7.6 x 5 cm) ea.
Kristina is captivated by the range of
experiences and emotions that shape
the depth and breadth of the human
condition. As an artist, she seeks
perfection but finds true beauty in the
imperfections brought about by chance,
nature, and human interaction. Her
work explores themes of abandonment,
betrayal, disconnection, judgment,
misrepresentation, and loss, depicting
the accompanying feelings of fear,
sadness, revulsion, anger, forgiveness,
and understanding through sculptural
forms.
Throughout Kristina’s artwork, there
is often a focus on the human form,
particularly women’s bodies, and the
internal and external influences that
shape them. The biomorphic qualities
of her art establish a connection
with the viewer and evoke emotional
responses. The repetition of forms
found in many of her pieces serves as
a reminder of the universality of human
experiences. She aims to challenge
viewers to seek understanding and
find beauty in the moments that define
our humanity, fostering profound
empathy for one another. In her art,
Kristina employs fiber techniques
while incorporating other materials
such as manufactured textiles, thread,
glass, metal, and plastic. This choice
of medium reinforces her themes and
emphasizes the tactile and visceral
qualities of her work. Reflecting
the themes of connectedness and
experience central to her art, each
piece becomes an integral part of its
environment, inviting the viewer into
the shared experience.
The inspiration for this series stems
from the notion that we are all
interconnected, both literally and
figuratively. Through portraiture of the
navel, which represents our physical
connection to our mothers as well as
the process of becoming our individual
selves, Kristina explores the similarities
and differences in our connections.
While everyone possesses a
bellybutton, each one is unique,
shaped by spontaneous actions,
thoughtful decisions, gravity, and the
passage of time.
Regarding “When We Are They Are
Us”:
In this work, women of various ages
contributed to the creation of each
strand, using a variety of materials to
symbolize a woman’s fertility. These
strands were made by teenagers,
young women, middle-aged mothers,
and grandmothers who dedicated
their time, effort, and thoughts about
their bodies and choices. Crochet
was chosen as the fiber technique for
this piece due to its universal nature
and ability to connect women across
generations. Just as many people
know someone who has crocheted,
they also know someone who has
faced challenging choices related to
their reproductive capacity.
Regarding “(Dis)Connection”:
The navel, serving as both a
connection and disconnection,
embodies another duality. Positioned in
one of the most vulnerable areas of our
bodies, the bellybutton carries intimacy
without the overt sexual connotations
associated with genitalia. Whether
and how one chooses to reveal their
navel greatly depends on socio-cultural
norms, the company they keep, their
age, and their self-perception. While
exposing our “soft underbelly” can be
provocative, it can also evoke fear,
offense, ordinariness, or playfulness. In
this work, Kristina deliberately isolates
the navel to accentuate these dualities
and enable the appreciation of the
diverse forms as miniature landscapes.
130
WHEN WE ARE THEY ARE US, 2023
Mixed fiber and textiles
96 x 84 x 72 in (243.8 x 213.3 x 182.8 cm)