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.

Galerie Fons Welters

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