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I always had a thing for...death! At first, it started as a quest for the mysteries of the afterlife, and then it became something like “death is man’s most loyal friend”. After a few years in the practice (!) I realized that there are a lot of people out there especially in the world of art that have the same worries. Fables and round the wood-fire stories is another great love, and also a not so rare combination for the night breed! Well if you are into all this, then you cannot overlook Miss Christine Polis! Born in Liège region (Belgium) Christine Polis sculptor, puppeteer, began her artistic career by studying children’s illustration and film animation at La Cambre (Brussels). The darkest stories and mythologies gave her ground to paint and illustrate mostly women figures in tragic and dramatic turn points. The doll making is what seems to be her greatest love. My first experience was “The White Lady with the Black Glove” a series of doll-like skeletons resembling the ghosts we see from time to time (at least some of us). The detail is superb especially on the garments where you see a totally realistic depiction of Victorian women’s clothing with silk and lace... “The white ladies appear for centuries, in castles on the battlefield or at the roadside. Some are ambivalent, they announce a good presage if they wear white gloves but also death if they are black” Then it’s the “Lady Mantis” project available at the Strychnin Gallery Berlin where other works of her are displayed. Again amazing doll figure, resembling Tim Burton’s character in Corpse Bride or the marionettes of “Dirty Granny Tales” I say, though in this work Christine has stated that her inspiration was Virginie Ropars, who, as I can understand, is a major influence for her in general. Those two along with “Daphne” are amazing works of art you can also check out on her Facebook page from different perspectives! The materials used are various, from paper clay to silicon, PVC, silk ribbon embroidery, silver and crystal pearls, paper, tulle, old lace, etc. The detail in her art is amazing considering that all her works are 50 to 80 cm long and maintain a lifelike resemblance with the void of death in their eyes! Christine has participated in many exhibitions in Europe (France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Russia etc.), among those the famous NovaBelgica Art Gallery that has hosted many artist of the ‘beautiful grotesque’. Apart from her puppets, other works include paintings, illustrations, animations with stop motion frames, all in fairy-like worlds that are dark and grim, but with beautiful aesthetics that for brief moments magnetize you into fantastic stories of ghosts and phantoms! You can have a very good idea of all her art spectrum at her blogSpot: www.christinepolis.blogspot.com and her personal site: www.christinepolis.com And in case you visit Belgium, do not miss the chance to visit a gallery or an exposition with her works! Burst { music magazine }