Aafke Hammenga

" Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. ''It's a thing that happens to you...". "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes" said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt"... ''It doesn't happen all at once" said the Skin Horse. ''You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joint and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." Chapter 1, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams One of my favorite stories.



It was in 2019 that I rediscovered my love for making art. In the years before I lost connection with myself. With drawing and painting I found my way back to life and living. I love stories, to tell them, to read them, to make them. I believe art can tell stories like mythes and fairytales do. They charm our soul, as a spark, they kindle the fire of our Eternal Child. For me making art is to be (Real), and the proces a transcend experience; existential, playful and intense, are key when I do so, using acrylic paint, acrylic ink, oil pastels or graphite pencil. I work intuitive and with that to connect with the subconscious. Abstract or realistic, expressionism is the common thread in my creations. I'm inspired by Kandinsky, Čiurlionis, and Van Gogh. Also great writers like C.S Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien and Haruki Murakami are sources of inspiration and wisdom to me. Since 2022 I run my own business as Artist, Writer and Mythosophist.