Waanplekken 45-60 (2021)
In 2021, I searched for the representation of the sea. Because memories of and experiences with this place vary widely, I have created images from different approaches and experimented with techniques. The result is a collection of works about calm, beauty and simplicity, but also mystery and fear.
My series Waanplekken (Illusory Places) consists of impressions of landscapes that I form using photography and the use of everyday materials. With this ongoing project, initiated in 2015, I seek ways to give image to memories and imaginations of overwhelming nature and the sublime.
The landscapes that inspire me are of an extraordinary beauty that transcends visual depiction. This inspiration motivates me to attempt to portray it, fully aware of the impossibility. As I strive to create untouched nature with my own hands, I embrace a paradox that becomes inherent to my work.
To get closer to the subject, I chose not to use a camera and experiment with the technique of photograms. By placing materials directly on light-sensitive paper, and exposing them, I created new places and structures, referring to the sea. This series of sixteen photograms is a selection of dozens of experiments in discovering and learning this technique.
Various selections of these works were on show at iCOON Hoek van Holland (2021-2022), Huis van de Fotografie (2022), Rotterdam Photo Festival (2022) and Het Noordbrabants Museum (2023).