Artist Statement

I am an artist and craftswoman, celebrating both nature and humanity in a quest for eternity. My work begins with gold, a metal whose enduring brilliance and resilience speak to the timeless essence I seek to capture. This creative journey is deeply intertwined with my Flemish and African roots, yet it also draws inspiration from my days paddling along the Indian Ocean and through lush mangroves, where I observe and absorb the organic forms that shape my art.

Feathers and scales serve as the foundation of my visual language: the feathers suggest the sky and the infinite, while the scales evoke the earth and the hidden depths of the sea. I see these motifs as embodying both the origin and the end of all things. Much like gold itself—eternal and unyielding—my creations are meant to transcend the boundaries of time, standing as quiet witnesses to history and the evolving narrative of humankind.

In my work, gold and gems are more than mere adornments; they symbolize the passage from the mortal to the immortal, from the earthly to the celestial. This idea, sparked by the luminous aura of Fayum portraits, aims to elevate everyday existence to a state of timelessness while magnifying the splendor of the natural world. Respectful of tradition yet open to new possibilities, I have refined ancestral gilding techniques to develop my own contemporary methods. By forgoing varnishes that might dull its reflection, I preserve gold’s inherent magic—its ability to capture and reflect light in a way that feels almost alive.

Whether I am crafting portraits, sketching emerging organic forms, or creating ornate jewelry boxes, I strive to distill the essence of time and the radiance of humanity, safeguarding them in gold so that they endure. My art does more than enhance beauty: it becomes a vessel for stories, a continuous link to the past, and a resonance that unites us across cultures and generations. In this unity of tradition and innovation, I find my voice—and a vision of eternity.