Help You (Hoodie)

Help You (Hoodie) (2006) by Berend Strik focuses on the hoodie — simultaneously a symbol of youth culture and athletic identity, and a garment associated with social stigma.

Strik's transformation of this image through his stitching practice adds layers that complicate the narratives around the hoodie. The textile interventions — soft, enveloping, protective — mirror what a hoodie is supposed to do: protect the wearer from the elements and from scrutiny.

The phrase "Help You" suggests both a request for aid and an offer of assistance — the hoodie as both vulnerability (needing help) and protection (helping you hide). The hoodie became a charged symbol in the 2010s in debates about race, youth, and policing — Strik's engagement predates but remains relevant to these ongoing conversations.

Sources: Galerie Fons Welters