Groeipijn (Growing Pains)
Dimensions: 204 x 56 x 26 cm
Year: 2024

Groeipijn (Growing Pains)

During an artist residency in a nature reserve in Andalucia in Spain, I was captivated by the old cork oaks that stood there. Each tree showed the traces of severe weather conditions and the time they had endured. Tasks had broken off, cavities had formed, the bark had crumbled, and yet they had grown mightily. Each in their own tortuous, crooked, and impressive way, they showed resilience and growth. Those trees are a beautiful metaphor for life. Growth is not just easy, because of the setbacks and difficulties we encounter, because of events we continue to grow, every human being in all kinds of phases of life. Mental and physical growth is accompanied by pain and struggle, and ultimately makes us wiser, more beautiful and powerful. I have experienced this myself, seen in my growing children and loved ones around me. Growing Pains is woven on a tree, transformed into a living loom, by Femke.