New discoveries and old friends

I love the outdoors. Frequently undertaking multiple day hikes in remote areas. Collecting inspiration high in the mountains of the alps or amongst the vast fjords of Norway. Physical activity draws me into a different kind of energy, and concentration. That’s when the natural ‘things’ around me excel and distinguish more - i.e. structures and patterns. Making little sketches and photos on the go and work on them later. 

I have been inspired by many notable artists across different fields. I find photographer Karl Blossfeldt remarkable with his eye for detail in his pictures, he has such devotion and concentration. Visiting Gaudi’s works, which are all on my incomplete bucket-list, was a dream come true. Nature speaks in his work. Parks, buildings, churges, furniture, I love how his work is open to the public so it can be enjoyed by everyone.

The greatest creating space

We lived in a house that was built in 1897. During my childhood my parents were always constructing and reconstructing our house at the Stationsweg. 

You may think that it was a busy, dusty, messy time. But for me it was the greatest creating space ever, with materials and machines available all the time. With the leftover pieces of wood my dad didn’t use, I created my own zoo animals. You could say that I was spoon fed using materials and solving constructional problems.

At high school I joined extra art classes and after graduation I traveled a year through Australia and Indonesia. But not before securing a spot at the art school in Utrecht. After Graduating in 2005, I started my art practise right away. Still loving it every day 15 years later! 

"I hope that my work makes people care. 
To see and notice nature and connect them 
to it and so their respect for nature will grow."

 I collect patterns from nature, in botanical gardens, Natural History Museums, in the mountains and raw nature reserves in Northern Europe. All my treasures are stored in my Wunderkammer, my library of inspiration. 

Yet my work is not a copy of nature. I extract patterns until archetypes remain. Because I design by hand each piece looks natural.  If I designed them on a computer, the shapes would become too regular and therefore artificial.

When you look at my work, the Biophilia effect takes effect. People dig into their subconscious for memories in which the patterns occur. This reminds them of that day in the woods or on the beach when they were happy and at peace. 

Closer to home is Marc Mulders, I am learning from his use of colour. And there is the concentration of Klaas Gubbels who uses and repeats mostly one subject: the teapot. I don't think I could do that. wow!

One of my favorite writers is Alain the Botton who puts the fascination of the human urge to explore in perspective in 'The art of  Travel'. 'Invention of Nature' are the adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, who's the Lost Hero of Science. I was surprised that nature research came to impactful and right conclusions a long time ago.

Natural place or resting point
I design patterns that link to nature. The results are forms and structures where the dimensions or scale do not matter.