Goddesses, mermaids and superpowers

As a human being and artist I'm always been fed by the unexplainable. Looking for the meaning of things all my work so far was an investigation into rituals and faith. Growing up in the Catholic south of the Netherlands, faith and religion played a big role. As a child I used to question myself: do I believe or not? In god, angels, afterlife. Gradually I fell from my faith but the old stories continued to fascinate and attract. This search and the love for rituals and religious bling-bling of the Catholic Church are reflected in my work. Transform it to my own story and taking advantage of the strong visual elements that heat our collective memory for thousands of years.

My 'Home Altars' literally embroider on old beliefs and rituals in a new way. They are both resting place and medicine for moments of doubt, for existential questions. Collecting and using symbolism from all kinds of religions, myths and corners of the world, I grab back to an age where everything was still selfmade, a world of spirits and gods, magic and nature.

With 'Mermaids' I go one step further. They are completely made up goddesses. I research what works for me, what could have been. And how far I can go in that. Women have traditionally been the guardian of tradition and rituals. The feminine in ‘Mermaids’ is a leading theme. The woman as life-creating primal force, with intuition as her Super Power and the great 'knowing' of things.

In my sculptures/assemblage art I use recycled wood, oil on canvas, metal, ceramic figures, sequins, seashells and embroidery.