What does it mean to you to join the North Lands Creative network and be part of building a community for glass?
I love meeting new people, and seeing new styles and perspectives! Being invited to Lybster was such an honour. It was then that I saw that I wanted to be a part of this!
Tell us about your work. What influences translate into your art practice?
I was born in Belgium, raised in South Africa and I studied in the Netherlands. I have worked and lived in Mexico and the USA, working in arts and architecture in all these countries. Meeting new people and trying to adopt different cultures is something I grew into and am quite thankful for.
Has this changed the way you approach your work?
I am not sure where I am in understanding the things I have experienced. Sometimes
I think there is still a long way to go…
What initially captured your imagination about glass?
The amount of focus you need to create.
What’s the significance of the handmade to you?
Sometimes I don’t really know how to express thoughts in words. Using my hands to create helps me get my thoughts out into the open.
What was your route to becoming an artist?
I’ll let you know when I get there
What is your chosen medium and what are your techniques?
Waste glass. Hotglass.
How would you describe your work and where do you think it fits within the sphere of contemporary glass?
I like to believe I can touch on topics that are universal. Climate change is something I was working to express long before I started blowing glass. I had to learn to work with the material, and Macgyver-style build all the things I needed as my knowledge and technique progressed. I like to believe this route has gifted me a unique perspective and signature. Linking my own experiences to the immigrant and outreach programs I run in my studio is something I do naturally. I think I even need it, it’s addictive.
Tell us a bit about your process and what environment you like to work in?
The studio is public access, which is really nice. We do workshops 5 nights a week and the last few months there are more artists coming in to share their experiences and knowledge.
This really contributes to the studio. I am also lucky to say that the group of artists I can work with right now are fantastic individuals. Thanks Roel, James, Denitsa and Isabel !
Who do you look up to when it comes to aesthetics?
Amber Cowan, Raven Skyriver, John Miller, Joseph Cavalieri, Nate Watson, Pearl Dick, Jaime Guerrero, Jon Lewis, Matt Szoz, Friedrich Kanuth, Andreas Gursky, Constant Nieuwenhuys.
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
The above mentioned artists I could spend hours talking about
How are you experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic in your country? To what extent has your everyday life as an artist changed in lockdown?
There are so many different perspectives on this topic. I try to approach it the same way as I have always approached situations; I adapt.
I am currently the owner of Rombachs Glass, a public (waste) glass studio. Recently I have also been given the honour to serve on the board of directors of GAS, where I focus my energy on the Outreach and Green committees. In my practise these are the two main themes I explore.
