The best way to show what you are against is to spread what you are for
Hey! I am Daniel!
I am a multi-disciplinary artist who combines original digital work of art with traditional printmaking techniques to (re)connect people with ‘home’. I am Dutch but based in Malaysia where I live life with my wonderful Malaysian wife and the two boys we have together.
After many years being employed, being stuck in traffic, being away from my wife and newborn kids, being micromanaged, and especially being disconnected from the values I am standing for, I was on the verge of being burned-out. I was already starting to snap at small issues. I felt a constant fear and panic. I still had more than 20 years to go before retiring. Was this the way life should be lived?
No. I want to live life like I love living it.
I believe being grounded is important.
I believe ‘home’ gives the place to ground and to share common values.
I set out to give my children their best home.
I believe ‘to identify myself with what I produce instead of what I consume’ is liberating.
That example I want to set for my children.
My work grew from a simple question: what makes a place feel like home? For me? Difficult question. It used to be at my parents, the place I could be having my feet on the coffee table zoning out without having to worry about a thing.
My parental home is long gone, but the memory isn’t.
Art is the way forward, for I can tell my story visually.
Art gives a place to slow down and wander away to worlds I want to be.
Art gives a place to conserve research, knowledge, and to be able to explain the world today.
Art is deep, stories and feelings about ‘home’ are deep, which I encourage everyone to keep on valuing.
Finally, art is an outlet to create a sense of belonging, a connection to place, craftsmanship, community and the feeling of being rooted.
Art is meant to be seen, except for on a screen.