They say that to find your way in the world, you need a map. But as an artist who spends my days between the precision of Dutch design and the unpredictable heat of a Raku kiln, I’ve learned that maps are often outdated before they are even printed.
What we need instead is a Compass.
I didn’t stumble into rebellion through art; I’ve been a rebel since I can remember. For me, World of Rebels is simply the latest evolution of a lifelong refusal to follow the herd. I realized that I started to expresse the same resistance I’ve always carried within me through the slow, the ancient, and the handcrafted. Whether I’m binding a notebook or navigating a foreign city, these five directions aren't just a process—they are my survival strategy for staying human in a world where we are all forced into the same mold. .
1. The North: The Quiet of the Now
In an era of "faster" and "more," the most rebellious thing you can do is slow down. In my studio, if I rush the fold of a single page, the entire book loses its balance. Our lives are the same. When we choose to be fully present with our hands and our hearts, we reclaim our time from a world that wants to steal it.
2. The East: Wisdom of the Ancestors
To move forward, I often look back. My travels take me to the roots of things—like the local Etruscan tradition of Bucchero. This is the direction of the "Old Ways." By honoring ancient techniques, we stay tethered to the human story. We realize we aren't the first to feel lost, and we aren't the first to find beauty in the earth.
3. The South: The Strength in the Fold
In Origami and Paper Art, a fold is a point of tension, but it is also what gives the paper its ability to stand. Our life lessons—the hard ones, the ones that crease us—are not marks of weakness. They are the structural points that allow us to become something new. We are shaped by what we endure.
4. The West: The Beauty of the Crack
There is a specific magic in Raku ceramics: the "crack" is where the smoke and fire leave their mark. In my spiritual life, I’ve stopped trying to glaze over my flaws. The Rebel’s Compass points us toward our imperfections, teaching us that the "cracked" parts of our story are often where our greatest light and character reside.
5. The Center: The Handcrafted Soul
This is the heart of the bridge. Every piece I create is unique and handcrafted, and I believe our lives should be, too. We are not mass-produced objects meant to follow a single mold. We are a collection of our travels, our traditions, and our choices.
Living as a Creative Rebel isn't about breaking things for the sake of it. It’s about the quiet, spiritual refusal to live a surface-level life.
Whether you are an artist, a seeker, or a traveler, I invite you to use this compass with me. Let’s find the bridge between who we are and who we are becoming.
Welcome to the World of Rebels.