Ikebana Puts Down Roots in Nicola Kloosterman’s Collages

Minimalist and refined, Nicola Kloosterman‘s creations combine fragments of images to form a harmonious whole. ‘Collecting illustrations is the first step in my creative process. After having produced several pieces in an intuitive manner, I wanted to develop a more thematic approach—this is how Shadowplay came about’, she explains.

Born in 1976, the Dutch artist specialises in collage. Working with images found while leafing through magazines, she deconstructs and reassembles them to create minimalist pieces. Inspired by ikebana, the series Shadowplay aims to be particularly graphic and delicate. Nicola Kloosterman plays with the notions of space and emptiness to better showcase flowers and colours. The result is a collection of botanical arrangements that are fragile and beautiful in equal measure.

Giving rise to a new creation

‘The ancient ikebana techniques bring together my love of flowers, shapes, and surfaces. When I researched the subject, I discovered the philosophy behind this traditional art and its rules, devised to make bouquets more harmonious’, Nicola Kloosterman explains. Thus, the artist takes care to reimagine the image, cutting out the shapes, stems, and vases to create a spiritual piece. ‘I literally put the pieces back together to give rise to a new creation. I like knowing that a simple tear can change a whole story’, she declares.

After scouring eBay to put together an image base, Nicola Kloosterman decided to give free rein to her imagination. ‘My method involves cutting images out in one fluid movement’, she explains. Out of hundreds of illustrations gathered, only a few dozen remain, assembled to form one poetic whole. Her graphic collages, like traditional Japanese art, reveal the splendour of nature. Their crafted compositions underline the search for a certain grace, balance, and serenity. This osmosis is found in the artist’s latest creations that combine female bodies and wild flowers.

Shadowplay (2017) by Nicola Kloosterman can be viewed on her website.