Umbrella Art

Umbrella Art (2023) by Berend Strik takes as its subject the umbrella — a device for protection against rain or sun that has also become a cultural symbol of shelter, concealment, and independence.

The umbrella appears in art from Magritte's impossible paintings to Jeff Koons's balloon sculptures. It is simultaneously practical and symbolic — a tool for the body and a statement about facing the elements.

Strik's transformation of umbrella imagery through textile intervention seems apt: umbrellas are themselves composed of fabric stretched over a structural frame — a kind of natural textile project. His own fabric additions to photographs echo the umbrella's structure.

The umbrella also carries political connotations — from the "umbrella movement" in Hong Kong to the simple act of sharing an umbrella as a gesture of intimacy and protection.

Sources: Galerie Fons Welters