Zeeuws

Zeeuws

The word “Zeeuws” in Dutch means from Zeeland, a Province in the southwest part of the Netherlands.
The pieces in this portfolio are inspired by the various traditional costumes of Zeeland. The diversity of costumes was so big because a few generations ago Zeeland consisted of several islands and each island developed its own styles.
My grandmother belonged to one of the last generations of women, dressed in a traditional costume.
Dutch Blues

Dutch Blues

I have always been inspired by textures and patterns found in textiles and ceramics from traditional and decorative art forms of foreign cultures. In this series of work I reconnect with my own Dutch culture, by borrowing imagery from the Delft’s blue ceramics, original from China but copied by the Dutch in the 17th century. Today they are mostly known as souvenirs for tourists.
The Family

The Family

A lot of pieces stem from family photographs of my past. The process of making activates a kind of relationship between the subject and me. It is not about replicating the image but about translating a moment of my past into an image of my own language of materiality and texture. At the same time it allows me to hold on to a memory a little longer before Ietting go of it.
The Harbor

The Harbor

I remember the harbor in my hometown of Breskens to be a vibrant place with many fishing boats and cargo ships. Fish were unloaded and traded at the fish auction and ships arrived with sand and gravel and left with grains and sugar beets.

Today the harbor looks different. Most fishing boats are gone and the buildings are slowly decaying. Yet I find beauty in their faded colors and get inspired by the still lifes of the colorful fishing nets and rusted chains.