Concrete Carved Wood Mixed Media by Jacob Hendrik

Concrete Carved Wood Mixed Media by Jacob Hendrik

Jacob Hendrik's art is a conversation—a dialogue between his hands, his materials and fire. He is drawn to the raw, imperfect beauty of things that have endured, the interplay between creation and destruction, order and chaos, light and dark. As a young photographer, Hendrik was obsessed with “Urban Decay,”a concept where one would find beauty in abandoned train stations, hospitals and houses lost to time. Decaying surfaces, peeling paint, intricate mould growing on surfaces became a source of passion and inspiration which can be seen in his work today.

His process begins with Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese technique of charring wood. For Hendrik, this process is not a destructive force but a collaborative one that reveals the raw, primal texture of the material. The fire becomes a partner in creation, revealing a richness in the wood's grain that was always there, waiting to be seen. Over this dark, scarred foundation, he lays delicate layers of Hanji paper, a material chosen for its history and remarkable resilience. The Hanji acts as a veil, softening the intensity and inviting a closer look. What the viewer sees is not just the paper, but the quiet, ghost-like impression of the burnt surface underneath. It’s a testament to the idea that our past, with all its imperfections, is always present and can be a source of unexpected beauty.

The recurring circles in Hendrik's work are a personal symbol. They represent the endless cycles of life—the pain and the joy, the endings and the new beginnings. He believes true wholeness is not found in a perfect, linear path, but in our ability to embrace the full circle of our experience. Through this process, he hopes his pieces can offer a quiet space for contemplation, a reminder that even from chaos, something beautiful can emerge.

Size
300 × 200 × 30mm