During my teenage years, I developed a fear of the sea, which resulted in avoiding swimming altogether. I found underwater scenes in movies so unsettling that I couldn't bring myself to watch them. In 2017, I mustered the courage to swim again, albeit with lingering stress. However, I continued to struggle with viewing underwater movie scenes. Despite this, my fascination with documentaries about the ice caps motivated me to create a video work, allowing me to engage with similar footage in a more manageable way.

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.

Waanplekken 7
Video
Duration 3:23
2017