Where is the line between experimenting and staying true to your signature style?
When I’m experimenting, I’m not concerned with my signature style. I think that’s what makes experimenting so interesting: it’s free and boundless.
It can go in any direction. Experimentation is an important part of my way of working. In my studio, I explore possibilities and try out techniques and materials, without any specific aim or expectation. Many experiments fail, and sometimes that’s precisely where an idea lies. But an experiment doesn’t necessarily have to become a finished piece. Often it’s just playing – losing yourself completely in the joy of trying things out. Sometimes it’s downright dangerous. For instance, I nearly started a fire in my studio recently. I wanted to see what fire would do to my letters, and it got a bit out of hand. But it led to a new technique that I now use safely.
I also often practise my craft in a traditional way. Then I develop something familiar further, using materials and forms I know well. That’s just as interesting. Because I work this way, I don’t feel any tension between experimenting and staying true to something clearly defined. And what remains is my signature style.
