Curious about how I made this masterpiece?
Check out the FAQ below where I answer all the common questions!
I made this piece in 2022 at my studio in Hoogstraten as part of the Signs of Hope/Symbols of Unity collection.
I used wood bark (which came from trees affected by bark beetles) and mixed materials on MDF.
YES…
I’ve wanted to work with the intricate patterns made by bark beetles for years but never had the materials. Then, while helping my brother split wood, I suddenly had all this beautifully scored bark, and that’s how I got the idea for this piece.
What eventually got me started on the work was a quote from Raoni Metuktire, an environmentalist and chief of the indigenous Brazilian Kayapó people:
‘We all breathe the same air. We all drink the same water. We must protect the earth, or the big winds will come and destroy the forest.”
When I first heard it, I felt a need to protect the earth myself. And to spread his message. Which is how everything got started.
Duh 👇
This piece carries a SUPER important message for our generation: we need to act now to protect the planet. So, it’s not only beautiful. It’s also deeply meaningful.