Groothoofdspoort Dordrecht

2024




 For the group exhibition Out of Nature at Kunstkerk Dordrecht (October 19 – November 30, 2024), I created a print using natural ink made entirely from foraged materials found in and around Dordrecht. The central image in the print is the Groothoofdspoort, a historic and iconic building in the city.

The final print was made with The Natural Ink Printer, a printer I built by adapting an old inkjet printer during my graduation year at Willem de Kooning Academy. With the help of coders, I reprogrammed the printer to work with homemade inks. Unlike conventional printers, which aim for speed, realism, and precision, this machine embraces imperfection, slowness, and craftsmanship. It can take up to 12 hours to complete a single A4 sheet.

I experimented with a range of natural materials to test their colour properties and eventually selected those that came closest to a natural CMYK palette. The inks were made from walnut peels gathered in Wantijpark, willow leaves from a fallen tree in the Biesbosch, blackberries from both Biesbosch and Wantijpark, and elderberries found along Baanhoekweg. Through this project I aim to visualize the unique colours of each season and location. And question the fast, hyper-precise goals of today’s print technology.

This project was part of a broader exhibition featuring recent graduates, each exploring their own relationship with the natural world. My contribution reflects on time, place, and the hidden potential of overlooked materials.