Natural Climate Buffers (2014)
This project was commissioned by the “Coalitie Natuurlijke Klimaatbuffers” (The Climate Buffer Coalition consists of several Dutch nature and environmental organizations) and in close collaboration with art historian and curator Maartje van den Heuvel.
This coalition has in recent years, on numerous places in The Netherlands, reshaped the landscape. To protect the land against the threat of water due to climate change. This has not been done by building concrete dikes and waterworks; but the climatebuffers were ‘built with nature’, which gives the water more space and turns these areas into environments that are ecologically sound and attractive for human recreation once again. For example recreating an old river branch of the Maas; or by sandsupllementation on a sandbank. Climate buffers will not only guard us against flooding but will also store water for dry periods.
I photographed four of these areas in response to old dutch master painters. The similarities of these areas and the well known historical Dutch landscapes, we know so well because of these paintings, is strinking. In composition, light, colour and atmosphere I tried to approach these paintings. In this way the ‘new nature’ refers to the historical landscapes. Every photograph refers to a specific painting.
- Dwingelderveld, 120x80cm, 2014; after Jacob Isaaksz van Ruisdael, Boslandschap met moeras, ca. 1665, © Staatsmuseum de Hermitage/Vladimir Terebenin
- Roggeplaat, 120x80cm, 2014; after Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch, Strandgezicht met schelpenvissers, 1891, © Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen/Studio Tromp
- Vlijmen/Den Bosch, 120x80cm, 2014; after Jan van Goyen, Gezicht op Arnhem, ca. 1644, © Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
- Ooijen Wanssum, 120x80cm, 2014; after Salomon van Ruysdael, De veerpont, 1647, © Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten, Brussel/Photo d’art Speltdoorn&Fils