Het Wilde Noorden
The organic shape and vibrant plant-based colours of Claudy Jongstra's 'Het Wilde Noorden' artwork reflect the innovative and ethical cuisine of Amsterdam's farm-to-table BAK Restaurant.
Jongstra's artwork extends the attention to seasonal, responsible sourcing of ingredients for each dish at BAK, through responsible sourcing and processing of her natural fibres and colour plants.
With a shared interest in preventing food waste, the restaurant kitchen also provided Jongstra with carrot greens, walnut husks, and onion skins that would otherwise be discarded as waste. Jongstra transformed these leftovers into soft greens, warm neutrals, and golden yellows for the artwork's colour palette. This transformation inspired the dynamic strokes of fibre that make up the organic composition - a metaphor for transforming conceptions of waste, raising awareness of the beauty and value of nature, and the urgency to consider food sources and waste more carefully.
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'Het Wilde Noorden' is also the title of Claudy Jongstra and BAK chef Benny Blisto's collaborative dinner series. Each dinner features seasonal, biodynamic ingredients from passionate local farmers, hunters, fishermen, and gardeners, who are also invited as speakers to present their expertise during the meal. Hosted at LOADS in Friesland, nearby Studio Claudy Jongstra's atelier and biodynamic garden, each dinner is also complimented by vegetables and herbs artfully cultivated by Jongstra's partner, Claudia Busson.
Title: Het Wilde Noorden
Location: Bak Restaurant, Amsterdam, NL
Date: 2024
Materials: Drenthe Heath wool, Merino wool, mohair, silk
Plant-Based Colours: Carrot greens, onion skins, walnut husks, cochineal, indigo, woad
Photography: Arjan Benning, Polina Gladkova
