My project during the working period at SVFK is based on my Danish-Dutch roots. I grew up in the Netherlands with a Danish mother and a Dutch father. In my parental home we had a mix of Danish design and Dutch antiques. Danish traditions around Christmas and other celebrations played an important role.
Nov. 2023
In my three weeks project at SVFK I investigated the combination of typical Danish and typical Dutch stuff we had in our home in Holland. I wanted to make a series of prints about these objects. I for example made a woodcut of the famous Y-chair (by Hans Wegner) I inherited from my mother. I combined it with a stack of letters, a reminiscence of her. This chair fits in a series of iconic chairs that I made in woodcut over the years.
Also, I depicted the famous Krenit bowl and Kongelig Porcelain teapot in real-life size, along with a Dutch pewter measuring cup and Delfts Blue pot. I wanted to combine these objects that are meaningful to me with more abstract layers that could tell something about personal and general connections and origins. For this I did various experiments with printing residual shapes, sawing waste and linen threads that I got in the weaving workshop. Ultimately, I chose to add a human element, the hand with its finger in the porridge. It refers to a Dutch saying which means that you have influence over something.
Another topic I have been working on is the Danish Christmas tree. The Danish Christmas tree is so different from the Dutch Christmas tree, the decorations are very specific and traditional, at least in our home, with all the paper cut-outs, braided hearts and stars. The garlands with Danish flags caused a stir among our Dutch friends. I printed a Christmas tree with real pine branches and placed the flag garlands over, so they stayed white.
My main technique was woodcut. I used the big electrically powered etching press to print.
I cut the plates and sawed them out later with the electric jigsaw in the wood workshop. Some of the forms I brushed with steel brushes to enhance the grain of the wood, which is important in my work. A wooden chair must really look like made of wood. With the separate elements I could vary with different compositions and variations in color.
During my working period I did some investigations at the Amagermuseum (about the Dutch community there), the Danish Design Museum, at Illums Bolighus and the Kongelig Porcelainshop. In these places I found some more items that reminded me of my parental home and which I can use in my work.
Dutch ambassador Nienke Trooster visited me at the SVFK during my stay to see and hear about my project.
Finally, I gave a short presentation of my work on the 27th of October during the weekly wine and cake moment.
