"In the last year, I've always traveled alone, mostly to Middle Eastern countries. In Hormuz, an island in the south of Iran, a local man on a motorbike was willing to be my guide when I arrived. He drove me around the whole day without speaking the same language."

Interview by Qimei Fu

I see you've done work in various magnificent natural landscapes where seem to be without human. But in your photos, there are some objects such as ladders, chairs, and benches. What's the story behind it?

In my work, I often photograph deserted and colorful sceneries, far away from the Dutch landscapes. I try to tell a story by using objects or making site-specific installations (finding balance, 2020) - it exists in a certain place, and the location is the starting point. These objects, without showing humans, make the landscapes even more isolated. Sometimes I have a plan in mind before I travel and I bring some items, clothes or blankets in my suitcase, and sometimes these objects are things that I find on the road or in a guesthouse, and then I photograph them in a different setting.

In the last years, I've always traveled alone, mostly to Middle Eastern countries. In Hormuz, an island in the south of Iran, a local man on a motorbike was willing to be my guide when I arrived. He drove me around the whole day without speaking the same language. We arrived at an incredible salt mountain, and the next thing I know is I took a photo of him, covered with the blanket that I had in my backpack. He became an abstract figure, with the shape as the mountains and the same blue color as the sky (salt mountain, 2019).

How's your experience of taking photos in Japan?

Quite different from these Middle Eastern countries is Japan, where I will move as soon as the borders will re-open. I've been to Tokyo at the beginning of this year, and I just finished my series for a Japanese magazine. I figured out my style fits there. It is also very inspiring to photograph people in the busy streets. The Japanese are very private and minding their own business. That also creates a kind of isolated feeling, on a completely different scale. I am trying to research and document this in my ongoing series.

How did your design study in collage influence your photography?

I studied design at the art academy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I've learned to create concepts, and I developed my sense of color. I've been doing a lot of self-portraits lately, where I am the stylist, the model, and the photographer - in my personal work, I like to be in control and create every aspect of the photo myself.

Describe your creative process in one word.

Organized chaos.

If you could teach a one-hour class on anything, what would it be?

The art of color combinations, or professional trampoline jumping. I can't decide, maybe it goes well together.

What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?

I don't watch a lot of movies. I often listen to podcasts these days, because I prefer to visualize things in my head. The last thing I listened to was a Dutch podcast about traveling through Mongolia. In it, a movie was tipped - Mongolian Ping Pong, which is at the top of my list, and Mongolia itself too.

What is the most played song in your music library?

Spanish Sahara by Foals. My boyfriend is Spanish and the desert, my favorite landscape, coincidence?

How do you take your coffee?

It's always the first thing in the morning.