Henrike Gootjes
Regeneration Strategist, Artist - Educator
'Confronted with this misery, I have a renewed longing to touch,
braid and tie; to create slowly, loop by loop, stitch by stitch;
connect and create'.Henrike Gootjes
'Oceans, Skies and Seas'
This series is an artistic response to current conflicts and displacement of people. Based on newsphotos new works are designed involving detailed cross-stitch, embroidery and needlework.
Henrike sais 'I have a renewed longing to touch, braid and tie; to create slowly, loop by loop, stitch by stitch; connect and create. I am willing to accept brokenness but not the status quo and believe that many small acts make an significant impact in restoring and redeeming beauty, dignity and life.'
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Free
'After reading stories about online sexual exploitation of children and young people (IJM) I made this piece of work.
A big pile of rubbish, in murky tones, also like a big city. With in it the blue, yellowish gloom of television and computer screens trough windows. Sometimes behind bars. On this mountainlike, gloomy city a fierce girl. Tall, hopefull, resiliant. Holding hands with her brother or sister. Above and around them, golden stars and warm, blue skies.'
'Free' aquarel. pen, ink. (30x50 cm) 2017.
Man bathing children
'Bombarded with images of war and destruction I can not turn away. So many people on drift and what can I do? I want to see and acknowledge their suffering and fan their resiliance. This photo by E. Nassar struck me. A man bathing children, a tender and mondain task surrounded by concrete carcasses of what once was a city.
I wanted to slowly give this picture color, give it my attention and love. The prettyness of beads and threads. To portait an tender arabic man to counterbalance the bearded terrorist. To cross-stich a father caring for children in a broken bombed-up world. As an image of God.'
Henrike