In my work, meaning does not begin with fixed symbols or predefined ideas. It emerges in the encounter between material, movement and image. What becomes visible develops during the process itself. It shifts, appears, withdraws and sometimes comes closer to the surface.
I work with different materials, depending on the environment I am in and what the moment asks for. A studio, a residency, working outdoors, each context influences the way I approach the surface. Every material brings its own resistance, rhythm and possibility.
What is symbolism in material and gesture?
Symbolism in painting does not have to rely on recognisable icons or fixed meanings. It can arise through the way material behaves, how a gesture is made, or how an image unfolds over time.
Material, colour and movement can carry meaning by revealing tension, direction, energy or stillness.
Symbolism in my work exists on different levels.
On another level, where forms, figures and recurring motifs appear and begin to carry meaning, a more narrative layer develops. That layer is explored elsewhere. How these forms eventually take shape and meaning within the work is described more extensively in symbols and narrative.
Here, the focus lies on the origin of symbolism itself: how material, gesture and layering shape what becomes visible during the act of painting.
Working with different materials
I do not work from one fixed medium. The choice of material depends on context and intuition. Each material offers a different entry point into the work.
Charcoal is essential in my process. It follows the movement of my hand directly and allows me to work with different pressure points. This creates variation in intensity, rhythm and presence within the image.
Paint functions differently. I work both in thick, direct applications (impasto) and in more constructed layers where drying time and technical build-up play a role. Each approach influences how the image develops and how it can shift over time.
Layered painting and the search for depth
Layered painting is a process in which multiple layers come together to form an image that evolves over time.
In my work, layers are not used to cover, but to search. They allow me to move through the image. Some elements come forward, while others withdraw or remain hidden.
This creates a sense of depth that is not only visual, but also experiential. The image does not reveal itself all at once. It requires time, attention and a willingness to stay with what is not immediately clear.
Gesture as a carrier of meaning
Gesture plays a central role in my work. A line, a movement, a shift in pressure, these are direct translations of energy and presence.
Freedom is an underlying theme. This means that control and release constantly interact. A fast gesture can open up the image, while a more controlled movement can bring focus or stillness.
The gesture does not only shape how something looks, but also how it is experienced.
Intuition and the emergence of image
What might appear as coincidence is, in my experience, closer to intuition.
During my time at the HKU, I worked extensively with conceptual development and experimentation. This resulted in many studies and explorations that still inform my process today.
From this background, moments arise in which the image begins to form. Not fully planned, but also not random. Intuition is rooted in action, experience and a deeper layer of understanding. It guides the process without fixing it.
Position within contemporary painting
Within contemporary painting, my work moves in a space where material, image and inner experience meet. It explores how painting can create room for what is not immediately visible.
opening a field
The focus is not on defining a single meaning, but on opening a field in which meaning can emerge, through layers, through movement, and in the encounter with the viewer.
symbols develop
The way symbols develop into recognisable forms and narratives within my work is described more extensively on the page about symbols and narrative.
This approach is part of my broader position as a contemporary Dutch female artist, where material, intuition and image come together.