Vietnam

Fairy walk: Upon arriving in Mui Né, I took a barefoot walk through a refreshing, shallow river known as the "Fairy Walk." The name makes perfect sense once you’re there—warm, sandy mountains in shades of orange and red, surrounded by greenery and a perfect blue sky. The towering mountains radiated a warmth, both in color and feeling. It felt like the kind of comfort and cozy atmosphere you'd want to bring into a home.

Palmtrees in Mui Né: Mui Né was the first place where I stayed a little longer and truly relaxed with a few dear friends. For a few days, I didn’t worry about the next stop, how to get there, what not to miss out on, or where to sleep. This view represents that relaxed feeling. It is based on a drawing I made with water and ink that I carried with me during my travels. It still gives me the peaceful vacation feeling that I experienced there.

Coconut: Even as simple as a coconut is, it taught me a valuable lesson. I expected it to be coconut milk—like real, creamy milk—but it turned out to be water, which was a huge disappointment. Though the coconut water was tasty and refreshing, it reminded me how expectations can shape reality.

Vietnam Hidden in Mykonos Hues: Open doors and windows resemble new beginnings to me. They represent an unknown path. Specifically for the "WHITEWATER" group show, I created this new work to present for the very first time. Mykonos was my first group show abroad, a personal milestone marking the potential start of new opportunities.

This painting features a window in Vietnam, which has the typical colors associated with Mykonos, playfully deceiving the viewer. The phrase “I was not here” provides a hint about the painting’s true origin.

Another Living: For days, we've been driving through evergreen mountains, and I am overwhelmed. I booked this trip not really knowing what to expect, but this nature surpasses everything. In the valleys, we occasionally spotted small villages, and along the way, more isolated houses sprinkled the landscape. To my surprise, these houses were colorful and beautifully adorned. As we rode on a motorbike, I did my best to photograph them. It must be truly exceptional to be able to call this green haven your home. It’s another kind of wealth, another kind of living.

Which made me raise the question 'What is wealth?’

New Perspectives: As I began solo travel, naturally, I found new ways to connect with people and places. When I took a boat on the lake in Ba Be National park, I stumbled upon a little market. There I discovered the small dried fishes. I was curious and bought them not really knowing how to prepare. The woman from the market tried to explain me but because of the language barrier they ended up cooking it for me right away. We ended up sharing everyone's food with all the women at the market. It was such a beautiful moment. Sharing food is a wonderful way to connect.

This painting is an other perspective on the landscape of the painting “Unknown Landscape”.

The chair is placed in a different position, offering a new viewpoint on the lake. This shift in perspective symbolizes a different outlook on life. It’s about daring to change your viewpoint and allowing yourself to be guided by the unexpected and the unknown.

Shared memories: A collection of memories from me and a friend who have been in the same place, but at different times.

It’s the same surrounding, but seen through different eyes.

There’s something beautiful about a physical memory. It’s like a little stone or a shell that you bring back from vacation, but in this case, it’s a personalized painting.

Water en Vuur: The painting "Water en Vuur," meaning "like oil and water," reflects the conflicts in the world, where people or nations struggle to coexist. Yet, on the matchbox, a dove of peace is still depicted, with the color choices being intentional, symbolising a silent prayer for peace.

- “In my mind, there are not different “kinds” of people but rather one humankind. That we may look different, have different ways of life, beliefs, or value systems is of course true and can be perceived as aspects of our Identity. But in fact, I believe we are all very much alike.” - Inspiring words by Pierre Sernet

One goodbye is another hello: This painting describes my journey in the north. Ba Be National Park, with its wild nature and it's still waters. It is this beautiful contrast that I mainly wanted to capture.

I stayed by the lake in two places, both south and north, where I photographed the two animals. I felt so peaceful and at home in the northern part of the lake. Leaving was pretty hard. Taking the red canoe, the feeling of loneliness overwhelmed me. I’m going to travel further alone again... But that also ment there will be another exciting new place to discover. So, as the title says: One goodbye is another hello.

Privacy: This painting is inspired by the many glass windows I came across while traveling through Vietnam, often found in toilets and bathrooms. Given that privacy was a luxury while backpacking and mostly staying in dorms, this fact really captured my attention. I particularly liked this one because of its beautiful pattern and the landscape that was revealed through it in a lovely gradient of greens. The picture was taken in a toilet on the road in the north of Vietnam.

Unknown Landscape: I spent a few days exploring the stunning northern region of Vietnam, but those fleeting days simply weren't enough. I found myself craving an extended stay before continuing my journey southward to bustling cities.

I turned to Google Maps, zooming in on the north until I stumbled upon a national park with a central lake. I had no idea what to expect, but it seemed like the perfect escape.

After a long journey involving buses and motorbikes, I arrived at my destination in the dead of night. The road was rough, with unfamiliar sounds, and everything was pitch black. I had never been so curious for the next morning to arrive.

The landscape unfolded before me on the first morning as I opened the door of my dark room and stepped onto the spacious balcony. I was greeted by a breathtaking sight. The lake stretched long and far into the distance, surrounded by endless greenery. I took a chair on the balcony and just sat there, captivated by the beauty around me.

Reflecting on this journey, I realized that embracing the unknown had led me to this experience.

There are risks in pursuing unknown situations in life, taking steps when you don’t know the outcome. But what if it turns out well? What if it turns out even better than you could have dreamed of?

What is Normal?: While traveling, I met Aniella. She loved coffee with milk, but not sweetened condensed milk — normal milk. Therefore, she would carry this “normal milk” with her all the time.

This led us to question, what is normal? It played in my head for a long time. I wanted to bring this up to the public to raise awareness of the differences between human cultures and to foster more respect and understanding towards each other.

April Rose: This is the name of the girl who is portrayed. But I like the idea that everyone could identify with the portrait. I met April Rose at a street food place in Vietnam with her parents. Her character was so bright and energetic. The way she expressed her feelings so spontaneously really inspired me. She was wearing a cute dress with lots of colours. I thought that the dress suited her so well because the colours reflected her colourful character. So, I decided to use the colours of her dress for her portrait.

While I was traveling, I was reading this book, “Ode aan de verwondering” or "Ode to Wonder” by Caroline Pauwels. I came across a part that I thought really fitted with this painting and that I would love to share. (Translated from Dutch) “Wonder is what gives color to life. It’s important to remain amazed like a child. Even in the grandest things, you should still see and appreciate the smaller ones. When wonder is gone, everything turns grey.”