Vita Nova

Vita Nova (New Life) by Berend Strik suggests a rebirth or transformation — themes that resonate deeply with his practice of transforming static photographs into dynamic, layered compositions through textile intervention.

The Latin title "Vita Nova" — "New Life" — connects to a long tradition in European art of titles evoking spiritual or personal transformation. Strik's stitched photographs similarly transform their source material into something with new life and meaning, going beyond what the original photograph could convey.

As Strik describes his practice: "I don't start with a clear plan. I look for what wants to be discovered. The stitching is a search for meaning." This openness — allowing the work to reveal itself through the process of making — gives his pieces the quality of genuine exploration.

The tension between the fixed photograph and the transformative act of stitching mirrors the theme of transformation itself: the photograph captures a moment in time, while the textile layers add subsequent histories, memories, and associations.

Sources: Wikipedia · Galerie Fons Welters