After Nadia graduated from the academy of arts in ‘s-Hertogenbosch she’s had multiple ateliers in the city center. When she went looking for a bigger workplace, she ended up in Waalwijk. She spent 6 years in Waalwijk, after which she wanted to share a workplace with her husband. This is how her current atelier in Sprang-Capelle came to be.
To those who know Nadia it might come as a surprise that she chose to work in the funerary sector, but for Nadia this choice feels natural.
‘’My work isn’t about death, it’s about life. I want to work together with the families of those who’ve passed to help process their grief, by creating a final tribute to the one they lost.’’
Involving relatives in the process of making a Portrait urn is very important to Nadia; not only because it’s such a sensitive matter, but also because she wants to help the family grieve their loved ones.
The family will have to go through photo albums to find the right pictures. Nadia might be the one to draw out the facial profile, but in the end the family decides which of the sketches best resembles their loved one.
As an artist, you want to create a unique and personal image for everyone, and that certainly also applies to a grave monument; everyone has the right to their own design. Personal stories from family, loved ones and friends form the basis for the personal monument. Often beautiful works that also comfort the family. However, this also comes with a price tag and is not affordable for everyone.
I think this is a shame and actually not acceptable; if you think you are so creative, you are actually obliged to create something that is financially accessible to people and yet unique. For me, it is not enough to make a standard urn for Mr. A in blue and Mrs. B in yellow or green. That says too little about the person.
I also wanted to do something with the idea of no longer being tangible but still being present. The idea of using shadow arose from this idea.
You decide for yourself when you want to see it. Shine a light on it and the contours become visible. Other people who come into your home will not immediately see what it is and will not recognize it as an urn.
Nadia does not make a Portrait urn alone. She works with a whole team. During the Corona period she discovered that her interns needed socialization and personal contact. Together with her husband Jurgen, she set up Lumiejére; a development-oriented day care. A number of young people from Lumiejére are her support during the entire process.
Want to know more about Lumiejére?
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