A box full of stories

Marjolein van de Ven

Jenny Ymker's work is poetic and full of imagination. The images she creates are reminiscent of photos from the past, but if you look longer you realize that something strange is going on. Take Morning fog (2022) for example, a tapestry she made during her working period at Park Zuiderhout. In a foggy landscape, a woman – in a light dress and heels – stands with an open suitcase in her hand. We see her from behind, as if looking into the landscape in the distance. She leaves behind a trail of papers, white areas on the grass, but the woman doesn't look back and seems oblivious. Rather, it exudes a certain calmness. What is happening here remains unclear. Therein lies the invitation for everyone to project his or her own story. Ymker's fascination for storytelling is the common thread running through her work.