Creative Magpie: Jeroen Bodewits

Dacha1 - photograph - part of the 'Russian Series'

I recently discovered the off-beat talent of Jeroen Bodewits while searching for photos of Russian dachas. Jeroen is a Nederlands visual artist working as a photographer, sculptor and print designer. His work focuses on the slightly off-centre, unusual subjects that may not have the immediate appeal of the obvious but they express beauty and interest in the ordinary and sometimes mundane; a ramshackle pile of wood, a wall fan, kitchen items on a table, an old woman in a worn-out tracksuit as well as the more serene and beautiful image of a girl lying bathed in sunlight on a couch. A mixture of industrial and sensual shapes and a diverse use of materials and ideas characterise his work. I especially love this dacha – if there is a photograph that would be a great starting point for patchwork then this is it! Here is Jeroen’s take on creativity.

Natasha - screenprint - part of the 'Russian series'

What inspires you?

Other art, and the act of looking for a theme or a subject in itself. I use the situation where I’m in and follow whatever triggers my curiosity and forthcoming ideas. I dive into something and find a thread, an inspiring ‘lead’, whether it’s traditional porcelain, dacha’s or work at the ministry’s office. All this is mirrored to ideas I had in the past too, and sometimes I refer to classical themes in art(history). My work is like a game that never ends, a growing collection of images and objects that somehow relate to each other. Last few years I worked in Russia several times. The ambigious situations and enormous contrasts I found there were particularly interesting to me: Safe/Unsafe, Love/Hate, Closed/Open, Beautiful/Ugly, Old/New

Daglicht - Beeldenstorm - tin cast with patina

What other artists or influences have fed your art the most?

I look at a wide variety of contemporary art(ists) and designers and get ideas from what I see. Whenever it surprises me, it feeds me I guess, but it can be anything. A piece by Mathew Sawyer, a text from Jenny Holzer, a Tony Cragg sculpture, an installation by Mark Manders, an Eames chair or something by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. There’s just so much out there.

Deer - screenprint with saturated pigment

How do people respond to your art and how does that influence how/what you create?

People usually respond interested and enthusiastic, sometimes puzzled when I come up with something new. I’m lucky to have a close group of critical friends around me who don’t hesitate to put their finger on the sore spot. A positive response stimulates me to develop my work of course, but critics make me look sharper sometimes.

Do you ever feel creatively blocked and if so how do you deal with it?

Of course, but that usually has another source. So I sink my teeth into a small thing and struggle with it until it starts working again, or try to relax to give space to my thoughts. A relaxed mind gives way to the best ideas.

What do you feel is the most important element of creativity or the creative process?

As I said: an open mind, free of trouble. But I’m very down-to-earth in this sort of thing. Sometimes there’s only a window of five minutes. When that works, it’s enough.

Business As Usual series

What is the greatest gift that creating gives you?

Surprise and amazement. I feel happy as a child when I find something during the process. I also make sure I can ‘get lost’ in my ideas: it’s a giant puzzle, a mind-game that keeps me playing with it. I think art should be something in itself and tell a story by itself without giving all the answers.

You can view Jeroen’s work and current projects on his website.
All images of the work displayed belong to their respective owners and are used here with kind permission.

Related posts:

1. Introducing “Creative Magpie” Blog Feature
2. Creative Magpie: Soul Poet Rachel Maullin
3. Beautiful Corner – Making Way for a Spiritual Life
4. Beauty as a healing force