You got to go through HELL before you get to HEAVEN.

And I’m incredibly happy and grateful to finally share this project, which has been a work in progress over the past year.

This work was made for Customs at Schiphol and commissioned by The Central Government Real Estate Agency.

HELL is the name of the Customs warehouse at Schiphol where seized goods are temporarily stored before they are burned and destroyed. The name apparently dates back to the early days of Customs at Schiphol, when this space was located in room 666. 

After a guided tour through HELL, I selected a number of these goods, combined some and transformed them into new ceramic sculptures. I then placed them inside transparent, coloured letters spelling HELL.

Somehow, this work feels less like something I made on my own and much more like a collaboration. It simply wouldn’t have been possible without the help, trust, expertise, generosity and creative minds of some truly wonderful people. 

So, with a very big THANK YOU to:

Peer Vink, Meeus van Dis, Hans Muller, Sander Alblas, Rainer, Cool Clay Collective, Pyrasied, Rutger Sterk, Manuel Klappe & All the people from behind the scenes of Customs.

From HELL to HEAVEN,  what a ride! And what a joy to finally share it with you.