I work mostly with found objects — things that catch my eye on the street, in containers, or left behind in the studio. I’m drawn to the traces of time in an object: how wood has grown, how materials have weathered, and the stories they carry. Sometimes, it’s simply a color or shape that speaks to me. Materials seem to find me everywhere. People often bring me all kinds of junk. It’s amazing what ends up in my hands once people know I enjoy working with discarded stuff.

The plastic I use comes from the River Schelde in Antwerp. It includes everyday debris, but also industrial plastic pellets — tiny, shiny, colorful granules used by local companies. These pellets are often handled carelessly during delivery, spilling into the river in vast quantities. When I collect them, I imagine myself as someone from the far future, discovering these “gems” and wondering who made them, and why they were discarded so unconcernedly. Could this be why life struggles to thrive here?