A Smile of the Kid

A Smile of the Kid (2000) by Berend Strik captures the unguarded expression of childhood — the spontaneous smile — and transforms it through his signature stitching technique into something that resonates beyond the individual.

The title's phrasing — "a smile of the kid" rather than "the kid's smile" — creates a subtle displacement: the smile becomes an independent entity, separate from the child who makes it. This grammatical choice reflects Strik's interest in how images detach from their subjects and acquire independent life.

Strik frequently works with images of children and family life, drawing on both his own family album and found photographs. These images carry universal resonance — the experience of childhood is recognizable across cultures and times — while remaining deeply personal.

Sources: Galerie Fons Welters