09/12/2022
When I started the project with the Flower Art Museum, I knew that the cover had to be special - I decided I wanted to visualize how flexible nature is. In this case I wanted to imagine nature as a rubber band, and that how amazing it is that it hasn’t snapped yet. This is especially as we build and build, continuously destroying the homes and habitats of animals without thinking.
And so, I started to think about urban environment of our cities, and how animals adapted to them.
Of course, when I investigated the subject, I found the most horrendous examples where nature was unable to adapt or evolve - and the tragic fates experienced by these creatures made me want to cry.
And so, I ended up choosing the metro service as a background for the image. I wanted to visualize an image that is just as surreal, as the reality that animals are forced to adapt to human behaviour. It is sad how we are just now realising that it should have been the other way around.
Although I was happy with the layout and concept for the cover, I realized that my specialty does not lie in Animals as much in presenting a surreal environment. And therefore, I realized I needed to partner with a collaborator. I am fortunate that we have featured so many exceptional artists in Art by Nature, and as I thought about who could help me with this conundrum, Marcel Witte came immediately to mind.
I first saw Marcel Witte’s work about five years ago, when I was on a city trip in Zandvoort, whilst pregnant with my first child. By pure coincidence I visited a gallery, and I saw his work “Multicultural”. At the time I was not well versed on his work, nor his process or inspiration. about who this artist was. So I went to his website, saw more of his work and the message he wanted to send. It was so refreshing how he makes his audience look at our society without lecturing us. It was clear that Marcel was a very talented and accomplished artist. So you may be able to imagine my surprise that he was enthusiastic to be in Art By Nature and since then we have kept in touch.
When we started the project “Human Nature", it was logical that he was one of the first artist we called upon to join the team. And so you will find the great story behind the inspiration of his work in this special issue of Art By Nature and you can also take a closer look at them in the Flower Art Museum in Aalsmeer.
A week ago I contacted him, showed him the cover, and asked if he could help me to “let the animals look more natural in the metro environment”. Without hesitation he said yes. One day later I got the new version back, and I was flabbergasted by the result.
The great thing is, he just told me what he did to make the animals more natural in their new environment. And even more typical he shared this insight as simply because he wanted to do his best to make my work look even better.
When I make the next issue, I will try to put his process into practice, but I’m not as vane as to think I will rise to his level of craftsmanship so quickly. However, it would be great to take my work to the next level.
