Nagels Als Zenuwcellen

Nagels Als Zenuwcellen (Nails as Nerve Cells, 1992) is an early example of Berend Strik's stitched photography practice, dating from the period when he began developing his signature technique of combining photographs with textile interventions.

Strik has worked in several disciplines, ranging from two-dimensional works to sculpture and architecture. However, he is best known for his embroidered — or more precisely, stitched — works. As Kait Photography describes: "Berend Strik prefers the word 'stitching' over 'embroidery' in reference to his own practice; for Strik, the latter is necessarily image-based, whereas the former simply refers to attaching one material on top of another."

The title Nagels Als Zenuwcellen suggests an investigation into the body's neural networks — the biological infrastructure of perception and sensation. Strik frequently explores the body as both subject and metaphor, connecting physical experience to artistic creation.

The work reflects Strik's engagement with found photographs and family album images that characterized his early work. These were "livened up" through colorful stitches and fabric additions, transforming archival imagery into something alive and personally resonant. The interplay between the mechanical precision of photography and the handcrafted irregularity of textile work creates a tension that defines Strik's practice.

Strik (born 1960, Nijmegen) studied at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (1986–1988) and ISCP New York (1998–2000). His work is held in collections including Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museum Het Valkhof, and TextielMuseum.

Sources: Wikipedia · Kait Photography