ME

I was born in Vlaardingen in 1969. My father, an enthusiastic amateur photographer, handed me his camera when I was about eight years old. From that moment on, I was captivated by the magic of freezing time. Photography became a constant in my life, but my curiosity extended beyond the lens—to drawing, painting, and other visual arts.

As they say, blood is thicker than water. Despite earning a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s in Psychology in 2002, I felt the pull of art growing stronger. In 2003, I took a leap and enrolled at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, founding my own design agency, blue in green. By 2007, I had completed my Bachelor of Arts, specializing in art photography.

In 2008, I co-founded Realmag. with artist Ab Bol, a platform exploring the intersection of design, science and art. Two years later, I joined the Tilburg-based art collective Föhn, where collaboration and experimentation shaped my artistic vision.

Everything I pursue—whether academic, artistic, or philosophical—is deeply interconnected. My work is fueled by a fascination with perception, human behavior, identity, the unseen and tension between those themes. At its core, my practice is introspective: an attempt to understand myself through the reflections of the world around me. The outside world serves as my mirror, translator, and curious interviewer.

A compelling artist, much like a skilled therapist, is guided by curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to ask the questions others shy away from. I hope these qualities are evident in both my long-term projects and my street photography.