In my work I research human interactions within institutional architectural spaces . I like to show space as a ‘language’ which is universally revealed in certain types of buildings. I explore spaces which have no meaning without content and in which visitors can project their own ideas.
My work is also influenced by the sociological narratives that are projected into a physical site, thereby informing how its inhabitants will reflect on the site and its contents.
Parallel to my art, I am the Netherland’s leading Cold War nuclear bunker specialist. This interest stems from my experience of nuclear bunkers as possessing a distinctly subdued sensorial impact – they are tranquil spaces. These bunkers are ‘cavities’ hidden beneath bustling, oftentimes overwhelming metropoles.
However, though such bunkers were essentially constructed as sites of protection, these very concealed monuments radiate a paradoxical atmosphere.
In more recent years, I also spent extensive periods travelling through Japan, researching the country’s traditions and philosophies of space, architecture and conservation. The notion of ‘Ma’ – architectural illusions, space that appears empty or without obvious function – is my main focus.
