Delay

Delay by Berend Strik exemplifies the artist's ongoing investigation into time, memory, and photographic representation. The title itself is a philosophical statement: Strik believes photographs cannot freeze time — they are always already in the past, always delayed.

As Strik states: "A photo cannot freeze time. Photos are imaginary, because what you see in a photo is no longer the same the moment you look at the photo. For me, photos are unfinished, open, incomplete." This philosophy underlies all his stitched work, where photographs are not endpoints but starting points for further elaboration.

The "delay" also refers to the time-intensive nature of Strik's practice. Each stitched photograph requires hours of meticulous handwork — sewing fabric, adding threads — transforming what begins as a mechanical reproduction into a unique, labor-intensive artwork.

Strik (born 1960, Nijmegen) has been creating stitched photographs since the late 1980s. His work bridges photography, textile art, and sculpture, and has been exhibited at major institutions worldwide.

Sources: Wikipedia · Fons Welters