The enamel works
As a kid at primary school I once did enamel. I was amazed by the technic even though I was disappointed with the end result. Although I think some of the other kids actually had cool results. I do not remember it that well, but this first experience with enamel stayed with me. When seeing, or actually when touching enamel things, something always happens with me. I am not talking about enamel pots and pans, but about those old fashioned street signs with a thick layer of enamel on it, where the letters are on top of the background and there is a beautiful shine and depth to it. I always had this vague longing that I should do something with this beautiful technique.
About three years ago I decided to start. I got some enamel powder and with some coins, a fork and my gas stove I did the first little tests: sprinkle the glass powder on the coin, make it glowing hot and wait for the powder to melt. Watch it cool down and see the true colors slowly emerge. I was amazed. It was truly beautiful. The question then was how to continue? Beauty alone is not enough, but these quick results make it possible to invite others into this practice. Already for years I have been interested in how other peoples ideas, handwriting, presence and other agencies influence my work, or how I influence their work. This has always been a shimmering interest, but because of the amazing intrinsic qualities of enamel, I saw this as a great opportunity to put this central in the learning and experimenting with this technique. I decided to never enamel alone.
In this booklet you find the works, tests or experiments of the people, friends and colleagues, that joined me in my explorations leading up to Spheres, Structures, Spirals, a solo exposition at JOEY RAMONE in Rotterdam. I needed those people, their energy, their eyes, their imaginations, their conversations, everything, to transform the works into something I could have never done alone. I sometimes wondered if I wasn’t exploiting them, but that most of them went home with something nice and shinny and tried out a new technique, makes it a fair exchange, I think. I am grateful for the experiences we shared.
