Nocturne

If all your hopes were condensed into one single symbol, what would it be? An object, a sound, a touch or a smell?

You bring that thing to mind, in times when you need it, and it gives you peace. You recognise it, saying “it’s going to be ok”.

My mother’s hands are that to me. They are strong, with almost leathery palms. They smell perpetually of bergamot oil in my memories. I can feel them pressing on my forehead, or my shoulders. I would recognise them out of a million other hands and I never realised that until I painted them.

In 2023 I created a body of work in collaboration with the composer Janneke Moes. Our work, titled “A Whisper of Hope” consisted of my work and Janneke’s multiple choir composition. “A Whisper of Hope” was performed on December 9 and 10, 2023 in Zeist and Amersfoort (The Netherlands). You can watch and listen to it here.

“Nocturne”

50×40 cm, oil on panel