Geerke Sticker

The work “Westhoek 4” is an autobiographical sculpture representing the negative space of the living room in my childhood home on the farm. This house is over 200 years old and has been inhabited by several generations of my family. To this day, the living room with its fireplace is the beating heart of this home. The thought that one day it would no longer be there touches me deeply.

The sculpture acts as a ritual object, with a layer of smalt being applied each year. Through this, the sculpture collects the settling house dust from the living room, which are traces of life in the space, from skin flakes to food scraps. After many years, the layers of the sculpture, similar to the annual rings of a tree, will reveal stories of time in this home. This process, in which my family and I participate, makes the sculpture a living document of our home.