Stories

I recently realized — something no one had noticed or mentioned, and neither had I — that everything I showed during my recent open studio is intertwined. Not only because I made and displayed my work, but also because of an overarching theme behind it that was not immediately obvious. The cardboard heads (the pendant about slavery, the Golgotha ​​trilogy), the birds (rooks, ravens, and crows), the clumsy heads... they constitute an indictment. An indictment against inactivity, standing by, letting things happen: dehumanization, degeneration, and destruction of nature; resulting in war, slavery, climate change, biodiversioty loss. Everything is interconnected, with one common factor: we, I, us, humans. Yes, there is beauty in decay, because it reflects life, death, happiness, sorrow, hope, and solace. In essence, it attempts to open my eyes and ours, a plea for compassion, sacrifice, empathy, being.

My vultures, crows, ravens, rooks, etc. act as opportunists, omnivores, curious for what is new and different, and highly intelligent, ready to explore the landscape. They are the first, the early birds on the scene, scanning the landscape, horizon searching for something odd.

My heads are we, the bystanders, the onlookers, those who let it happen, de zwartgalligen, de wegkijkers, Pharisees and Sadducees if you will; people of good will, observers that hesitate to take action; but also selfportraits, mirrors for human imperfection.