From the lens of my camera to the harness of a service dog, my journey has led me through diverse worlds, each with its own story and meaning.
During my studies in photographic design at the art academy, an interest in cynology emerged. This led to fourteen years of work as a canine behavior therapist, teacher, and trainer of guide dogs and assistance dogs. Although I found great satisfaction in my work with dogs, my passion for photography and art always remained. Driven by changes within the world of photography, I decided to return to school. There, my curiosity was piqued to work with different media and sometimes even to deviate completely from photography. In 2018, I obtained my diploma from the Nederlandse Academie voor Beeldcreatie in Amsterdam.
"I don't feel like a photographer..." That thought frequently wandered through my mind during my studies at the Nederlandse Academie voor Beeldcreatie. Even after my studies, I found it difficult to "label" myself in that way. Why? I enjoy the freedom to combine photography with other media or to deviate from it entirely.
A concept shapes the project. In this process, I really appreciate the coincidences that occur during my work. By not approaching these coincidences as mistakes, I often use them as a valuable addition to my work. The formats in which my works are eventually presented vary greatly. The format is determined by how the story needs to be told.
A common theme through my work is depicting the inner world of humans. The world around us consists mainly of an 'outside'. I feel that this world often feels empty and distracts from what is valuable in life. It's the experiences that take place in the inner world that make us unique and interesting.