Between wet bugs and common weeds

For Between wet bugs and common weeds I make work in the Rosandepolder, an area within walking distance of my home. Through creative, sensory and literary research I try to become familiar with the landscape and ecosystems within it. By making developer for analog film with weeds from the area, I hope to ingrain the materiality of the landscape into the images. It’s a way of paying attention to our forgotten relationship with these plants and envisioning a possible non-hierarchical ecosystem where living beings are equal. To minimise waste, I re-use the plant material from the developer to make toner for cyanotypes.

With this method I hope to reduce my ecological footprint and establish a deep relationship with a specific ecosystem and what lives inside of it.

Artist statement

I explore my position within ecology as a human and maker by delving into landscapes through creative, sensory, and literary research. I aim to create work that promotes equality between humans and non-humans, using alternative photographic techniques to reduce my ecological impact.

I strive to provide insight into non-human life and challenge the separation between humans and nature. My method requires time, quiet, and attention, in contrast to our fast-paced society, allowing for an organic, conscious process to unfold.

Ambitions

I would like to collaborate with organisations and initiatives, within and outside the art sector. In addition, I would like to focus on collaborations between humans and non-human life forms: How could an amoeba, nettle or bladderwrack be a collaborator in the collective? Lastly, I would like to participate in residencies that focus on the themes I work with. By participating in residencies at different locations, I could perhaps apply the method I developed in my graduation project to other areas and ecosystems.