The Journey Behind Kitchen Species
The first idea was to explore the hidden worlds beneath the surface of Leiden itself.
Inspired by the mysterious deep-sea creatures photographed in National Geographic, I wondered if I could discover unknown “species” much closer to home. Instead of travelling to the depths of the ocean, I looked at the waters surrounding my own city.
Leiden’s historic singels—the waterways that once formed the defensive boundary around the old inner city—became my starting point. I collected samples from these waters and placed them in glass bottles, allowing time and natural processes to create their own small ecosystems.
From one of the first samples, I managed to create an intriguing image that I called “Water Monster.” It appeared like a glimpse of an unknown life form from another world.
However, when I tried to repeat the experiment with other samples, the results became impossible to predict. Each bottle developed its own atmosphere and character through countless invisible processes. The element of chance was simply too dominant, and the Leiden singel project came to an end.
But the idea remained.
If I could not explore unknown worlds beneath the waters of Leiden, why not begin much closer to home? Why not look into the hidden universe of my own kitchen?
That change of direction led to “Kitchen Species.”
Using ordinary herbs and spices, combined with water, light, movement, and photographic experimentation, I discovered a new world of unexpected forms and cosmic landscapes.
Sometimes a change of direction is not the end of an idea—it is the moment when the real idea reveals itself.