I was looking for a wild place.

Last April I left with two backpacks, packed with food for a month, some tools and clothes.


It was a challenge to reach the spot. I had never been there before and did not really know what to expect. The only thing I knew was that I would stay there. Stay there for one month, 28 days that would feel different than the ones before.

My aim was to connect with my surroundings and to observe. Observe the inhabitants of the wild place, the nature, the change of time and my own thoughts.

On my daily walks I avoided leaving traces in the sand of the river banks, so that I could come back the day after and discover the place as if I have never been there before. One month I did not create anything. I just observed, this was something I have never done before.

A cave became my home, the fire my best friend. The river broke the silence and brought fresh drinking water. Rare sunlight was feeding my soul. Dark nights changed everything, turning the eyes towards the inside and the universe at the same time.

I haven’t seen a single person in these 28 days… But I did feel connected with the water, the wind, the fire, the stones, the trees, the earth and the inhabitants of the wild place.

I am happy that they still exist, these wild places. Thank you for letting me be your guest.

Since then I have been working on a group of sculptures and a film about the wild place. The story will be told with wood, stones and bones, collected during the stay in the mountains.

I am very lucky and happy with my residency at Make Eindhoven where the sculptures grow to their final form. Together with the Mondriaanfonds they support this special project. Thank you so much!

film document about my Stand Up Paddle Board journey

Sempacher Woche 18. Februar 2021 / Surseer Woche 25. Februar 2021

WAZ Duisburg

km magazine 2020 / interview by Florence Husen / coverpicture by Auke Hamers

blossom is back in Leiden

Thank you BPS and BIL!

picture by: S.van Noort

 

 

 

 

working on roots, artist in residence, sculpture park Kloster Schönthal, Switzerland 2019

film document / roots / sculpture park  Kloster Schönthal

 

 

 

 

Atlas mountains Morocco 2018, bicycle trip Switzerland – Morocco

picture by: René

 

 

 

 

installing “I am the mountain”, Buisse Heide, Netherlands 2018

picture by: Ron Dirven

working on “I am the mountain”

 

 

 

 

“floating in space serie” @ Prospects & Concepts Mondriaan Fonds, ART Rotterdam, Netherlands 2018

thank you: Mondriaan Fonds, Stijn Huijts, Leony, Acrylic One

 

 

 

 

working on mugluk, Breda, Netherlands 2017

thank you: Remko

picture by: Remko

 

 

 

 

Alpenpässeweg, Switzerland 2017

thank you: Wouter & Margot

picture by: Wouter Zweers

 

 

 

 

installing korstmos, Switzerland 2017

thank you: Wouter & Margot

 

 

 

 

Balkan by bike 2016

Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece

pictures by: René Hardegger, Josua Wechsler

 

 

 

 

working on betonblocks, Hamburg, Germany 2016

thank you: Jonas Ott & Margot Zweers

 

 

 

 

cloud transport / installation, Switzerland 2016

pictures by: Stefanie Sigle

 

 

 

 

working on parts of pieces, de fabriek Eindhoven, Netherlands  2015

thank you: Paul, Ed / Hollandpacking, Paul, Teun, Isa, Margot, Jonas

 

 

 

 

working on memento Biesbosch, Netherlands  2014

thank you: Dirk, Margot, Frans

 

 

 

 

working on dead tree project, Oisterwijk , Netherlands  2014

picture by: Jonas Ott

 

 

 

 

floating transport / kajaktour Breda-Zeeland, Netherlands 2013

 

 

 

 

horse trekking, Altai Mongolia 2011

pictures by: Claudio Waser, Olivier Heller, Philippe Oesch

 

 

 

 

bicycle trip, England / Scotland 2011

picture by: Margot Zweers

 

 

 

 

5 months bicycle trip, New Zealand / Australia 2008