Artist Statement

I am Amber Bijl, visual artist.

Born in 1983, I grew up in a family where art is a central theme. My father was head of restorations at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for a while, before starting his own restoration studio. My brother and my mother jointly run an art gallery in seventeenth-century paintings. And I knew from the age of four that I wanted to have my own studio just like my father, but to make art myself. Since 2009 this studio is a fact.

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The central theme in my work is nature. This is reflected in the choice of materials, the appearance and the texture of the artworks I make. Nature is a source of inspiration. Of energy, growth and renewal, but also of peace and serenity. I feel connected to nature, and my work reinforces and shows this.
Take, for example, my artwork based on maple seeds. In one work, thousands of individual maple seeds are carefully processed and arranged. The works of art carry the aspect of growth and innovation. After all, each seed has the potential to grow into a tree, and then bear seed itself. Seeds that blow out of the tree by the thousands on windy days, and of which only a few will grow into a tree. However, under the right circumstances, something small can give rise to something big and majestic.

The creation of these works is a process where I completely isolate myself and work from a flow, for hours on end. It's very Zen, it has a meditative quality. This is clearly visible and palpable in the end result; a contemporary piece of art with a strong calming and natural dimension. The diffuse transparency and delicacy of the seeds (or shells) means that light has a major influence on the appearance of the work throughout the day. The wall object thus conveys an ever-changing energy, but always from a natural state of calm.

The preference for natural materials is also visible in the textile works. The Hoops series is made of wool, cotton, and silk. My more recent work, the Morning Sight series, is made of 100% wool. A characteristic of my work is that people always want to touch it. With the maple seeds, this is not so convenient due to their fragility, but with the wool works, this is not a problem. Wool radiates comfort and warmth, and as pleasant as it is to wear or touch, it is equally pleasant to look at. A wall object made of wool fits into any interior; it is a timeless, warm, and cozy material.

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The success of my work can be inferred from international exhibitions in Europe and America. The work has been displayed in interiors of various leading interior designers, at many galleries, and at multiple international art fairs.

My art has proven to be easily combinable with different interior styles. It has been shown to have strong similarities in appearance with ethnography, complementing it well. However, when placed in a calm, bright space, it has a meditative, soothing effect.

The works can be well integrated into all styles, giving a completely different impression each time. As such, my work has found its way into interiors with modern, timeless, or eclectic characters, among others. The aim of my work is to bring people peace, beauty, and joy. It strengthens the connection with nature and continues to surprise people whenever they see it