The Underworld silkscreen prints series is printed on fabrics in layers using natural inks. At the start of the Covid pandemic in 2019 I have started to experiment with making my own natural inks, mainly from plants. The layers create depth and texture which are enhanced by embroidery. Moving shadows & dancing light spots.
underwater:
a world distorted
that we know
inverted
what seemed solid
becomes fluid
fleeting in layers
like a murky negative
topsy-turvy
the deeper, the darker:
underworld
In 2021 I got a grant (Impulsregeling zzpers) from the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie to expand my knowledge of lithography. To benefit both my own practise as well as the Grafische Werkplaats where I work as a technician. Jurjen Ravenhorst gave me a mastercourse in lithography and with his help I spend a year developing my litho printing skills. Experimenting with printing on textiles like cotton and silk and with printing in layers, I created a series called ‘Underworld’ that was presented in the Grafische Werkplaats in September-November 2022. It is still an ungoing series.
In de weekenden van 25-26 juni & 2-3 juli ’22 is er kunst te zien in de tuinen bij VTV Mariahoeve, Den Haag. Daar kun je ook mijn (Terror)vogels zien, een wens in 1 van de gevleugelde buisjes van ‘I wish’ in de wensboom/struik doen en mijn ‘Freaks of nature’ 3D schetsen (zie ook de Freaks of nature tekeningen op deze site) bekijken in het boeken-leenkastje.
At the weekends of June 25-26 & July 2-3 you can enjoy art at the gardens of VTV Mariahoeve, The Hague. You’ll find my (Terror) birds there and can put a wish in one of the winged tubes of ‘I wish’ in the wishing tree or view my ‘Freaks of nature’ 3D sketches (you may enjoy the Freaks of nature drawings also on this site) in the free books cabinet.
‘Underworld’ is a series of risoprints made with photographs I took of trees/landscapes mirrored in water. They show an inverted, inaccessable world full of mysterie. The same but also the opposite of the world we live in and call reality. There are 111 prints on paper, all a bit smaller than A4, all different in image, amount of layers or colours, some of them have been sewn over or have a sewn-on layer of sheer fabric.
Ceramic prints – 2014 & 2015.
In 2014 I started with experimenting with printing (silkscreen) my own ceramic transfers. This lead to the series of ‘Garden lovers’ and ‘Wake up!’.
I also teach this technique in workshops for the Grafische Werkplaats.
The prints are used on divers old and new tableware.
Ceramic prints – 2004.
In 2004 I have experimented with printing linocuts into clay.
These experiments have resulted in small flat and 3D reliefs, mainly of fishes and plants. These reliefs are fired and glazed.
Freaks of nature / Growths – 2000-2001.
Pencil drawings on paper.
A series of drawings made after a trip through Australia in 2000. The light and climate in Australia is hard and that creates many contrasts. In these drawings I looked at the Australian landscape on a micro-level to explore the following dualistic values of it:
soft and hard
light and dark
sharp and vague.
I took small natural objects as a starting point: photographed or taken as a souvenir.
Shadow drawings – 1997/1998.
Drawings in pencil or ballpoint on paper, kite paper (transparent) or directly on the wall (or floor).
The drawings are trying to capture the shifting fleetfulness and movement of shadows. Wherever there is light, there is shadow. You can be in it and it feels deep and endless, but just a little light will dispel it. In this series I have experimented to get depth in the drawing while keeping it flat. In june 1998 I created a shadow-memory-drawing installation for the exhibition ‘t Fort in a house at the Krusemanstraat, Den Haag.
Interior landscape – 2009.
Freestanding 3D linocut on wood, 6x4x3 m.
After I made ‘Den Haag Binnenstebuiten’ I used a similar set up to make an indirect self portrait. It became a free standing room with images of objects and direct self portraits throughout the years (inside) and landscapes that are meaningful to me and that I believe make up my ‘interior landscape’.
This project was partly financed by Stroom and in 2008 I had a small exhibition of the project in progress at the Stroom facilities in Den Haag: ‘Ondertussen’.(‘In the mean-time’) The work was also exhibited in Pictura, Dortrecht in 2009 during the ‘Printing outside the frame’ exhibition.
Australia – 2001-2004.
Cut & inked linoleum.
A series of linocuts made after a trip through the West of Australia.
In 2005 I won first prize with them at the GAU Grafiekprijs.
