Hedwich Rooks

born 1995 in Grou (NL), currently lives in The Hague (NL)

As a self-proclaimed contemporary alchemist, Hedwich Rooks’ practice consists of stretching concepts, extending bodies, digitizing matter and materializing data. The research-based work commonly draws on biology and geology, and often expresses itself in a combination of lens-based media and sculptural installations. The most constant factor that the work should ultimately convey is change. The matter of which life is composed is constantly in a state of new dialogue, matter is endlessly merging, especially now that humans can make conscious choices and influence it.

To engage in this dialogue, Hedwich works with microorganisms, deep time matter, metamaterials and other -sometimes terrestrial, sometimes extraterrestrial- phenomena and let them cross-pollinate. Based on this, the artistic activities are self-described as metabolic, in which chemical matter and its processes are (re)created. By practicing this, the works are quasi-grotesque with an alchemical vibe; these slightly defamiliarizing elements are applied to expose the unconventional and allow them to be more integrated into one’s realities.

education
2020 — 2022Ecology Futures (MA), MIVC St. Joost, ’s-Hertogenbosch
2016 — 2020 Fine Art (BA), Art Academy Minerva, Groningen
                                        Nominee Research Award (based on thesis)
                                        Nagoya Zokei University, Japan (exchange program 2018)
2014 — 2016 Design & Communication (BA Propedeuse), Specialization: Illustration
                                       Art Academy Minerva, Groningen

selected exhibitions
2023  Purple Pill, Tresor.West, Dortmund
2023  Through Bone and Marrow, BRUTUS Rotterdam
2023  The New Current, Rotterdam Art Week
2021  Solaris, Acid Salt, murmur (Noord) Amsterdam
2021  Matter of Tide at RE_NATURE festival, MIVC group exhibition, ’s-Hertogenbosch
2021  Prospective Sludge at Pitcairn Museum of Contemporary Art, Groningen
2020GUP New Talent 2021, GUP Magazine, Kahmann Gallery Amsterdam
2020Misplaced, Oped Space Tokyo, Japan
2020Buiten Westen #2, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim
2019 Subba Expo, Subbacultcha hallway, De School, Amsterdam
2019 Osmosis Omission at Do Not Touch, Maydays, Bij Vrijdag, Groningen
2018 Acid Salt, Sexyland, Amsterdam
2018 Anthropomorphic Sea Ovum at NZU Exhibition, YADA Gallery, Nagoya, Japan

press
2023  Exploring blood, salt and iron as biomaterials with Hedwich Rooks, Next Nature Network
2022  4 GRAMS OF IRON thesis fragments, DAISYWORLD MAGAZINE #5
2021  Interview Speaking to the many senses, creative collective Acid Salt
                    challenges how we engage with art, It’s Nice That
2021  Interview Hedwich Rooks: A Polymorphic Art Practice, Agora Digital Art
2020Featured in Eindexamenspecial Metropolis M
2018 Article 4AM Forever + poster spread, Subbacultcha magazine

CV + portfolio(s) on request; in addition to  art projects and photography, several portfolios in the fields of graphic design & illustration, (bio)materials and edibles (foodculture) are available.

All photographs on this website are taken by the artist, unless otherwise mentioned below the image  -all rights reserved ©. Design by Hedwich Rooks, development by Jan Johan Draaistra (2022).

born 1995 in Grou (NL), currently lives in The Hague (NL)

As a self-proclaimed contemporary alchemist, Hedwich Rooks’ practice consists of stretching concepts, extending bodies, digitizing matter and materializing data. The research-based work commonly draws on biology and geology, and often expresses itself in a combination of lens-based media and sculptural installations. The most constant factor that the work should ultimately convey is change. The matter of which life is composed is constantly in a state of new dialogue, matter is endlessly merging, especially now that humans can make conscious choices and influence it.

To engage in this dialogue, Hedwich works with microorganisms, deep time matter, metamaterials and other -sometimes terrestrial, sometimes extraterrestrial- phenomena and let them cross-pollinate. Based on this, the artistic activities are self-described as metabolic, in which chemical matter and its processes are (re)created. By practicing this, the works are quasi-grotesque with an alchemical vibe; these slightly defamiliarizing elements are applied to expose the unconventional and allow them to be more integrated into one’s realities.

education
2020 — 2022Ecology Futures (MA), MIVC St. Joost, ’s-Hertogenbosch
2016 — 2020 Fine Art (BA), Art Academy Minerva, Groningen
                                        Nominee Research Award (based on thesis)
                                        Nagoya Zokei University, Japan (exchange program 2018)
2014 — 2016 Design & Communication (BA Propedeuse), Specialization: Illustration
                                       Art Academy Minerva, Groningen

selected exhibitions
2023  Purple Pill, Tresor.West, Dortmund
2023  Through Bone and Marrow, BRUTUS Rotterdam
2023  The New Current, Rotterdam Art Week
2021  Solaris, Acid Salt, murmur (Noord) Amsterdam
2021  Matter of Tide at RE_NATURE festival, MIVC group exhibition, ’s-Hertogenbosch
2021  Prospective Sludge at Pitcairn Museum of Contemporary Art, Groningen
2020GUP New Talent 2021, GUP Magazine, Kahmann Gallery Amsterdam
2020Misplaced, Oped Space Tokyo, Japan
2020Buiten Westen #2, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim
2019 Subba Expo, Subbacultcha hallway, De School, Amsterdam
2019 Osmosis Omission at Do Not Touch, Maydays, Bij Vrijdag, Groningen
2018 Acid Salt, Sexyland, Amsterdam
2018 Anthropomorphic Sea Ovum at NZU Exhibition, YADA Gallery, Nagoya, Japan

press
2023  Exploring blood, salt and iron as biomaterials with Hedwich Rooks, Next Nature Network
2022  4 GRAMS OF IRON thesis fragments, DAISYWORLD MAGAZINE #5
2021  Interview Speaking to the many senses, creative collective Acid Salt
                    challenges how we engage with art, It’s Nice That
2021  Interview Hedwich Rooks: A Polymorphic Art Practice, Agora Digital Art
2020Featured in Eindexamenspecial Metropolis M
2018 Article 4AM Forever + poster spread, Subbacultcha magazine

CV + portfolio(s) on request; in addition to  art projects and photography, several portfolios in the fields of graphic design & illustration, (bio)materials and edibles (foodculture) are available.

All photographs on this website are taken by the artist, unless otherwise mentioned below the image  -all rights reserved ©. Design by Hedwich Rooks, development by Jan Johan Draaistra (2022).