Felwa
van
13.04.2025
t/m
26.10.2025
13.04.2025
26.10.2025
Nature in Transition - photography by Arja Hop and Peter Svenson
Pupesmeul (Purple Moor Grass), Meizeumpje (English Daisy), Fluithout (Mountain Ash or Rowan) and Sukerjenniggen (European Honneysuckle) – all of these are plant names from an ancient Veluwe dialect. They not only refer to the places where the plants grow but also evoke local or historical traditions. For instance, Pupesmeul (Purple Moor Grass), found on the heath, was once used to make brooms and brushes for chimney sweeps – a literal ‘pipe cleaner’! Photographers Arja Hop (1968, NL) and Peter Svenson (1956, NZ) are captivated by the Veluwe and the plants that have been significant to the region’s inhabitants for thousands of years. The exhibition Felwa - nature in transition will be on display at CODA Museum from 13 April to 26 October 2025 and complements an eponymous publication. Hop and Svenson: ‘The great challenge in our work is to give nature and the plant world a voice without placing ourselves or humanity at the centre.’
Felwa is an ancient Germanic term for the area now known as the Veluwe. Translating into ‘pale light yellow’, it refers to the colour of the sandy soils so characteristic to the region, which are also deeply connected to Arja Hop’s birthplace. During her first meeting with Peter Svenson eight years ago, they decided to document the surroundings of her childhood home – a farm in Hierden, near the Veluwemeer – from the perspective of the plant world. This plan and their encounter led to a long-standing artistic and heartfelt collaboration, both together and in dialogue with nature.
The exhibition and the photo book Felwa (Jap Sam Books, 2024) explore a fundamental paradox of and within nature: that change is the only constant. This transformation is evident, for example, in the photographs of the grounds of Hop’s family home. In the final years of her mother’s residence, the land began to rewild as it was no longer intensively farmed, allowing native plant species to return. Change and the restoration of nature are also vividly captured in panoramic photographs of a Veluwe field (Bloemkampen), which, having served as farmland for two hundred years, is now managed by Natuurmonumenten. Hop and Svenson meticulously traversed the field to capture every subtle change for their panoramic images. Hop and Svenson: ‘When artificial fertilisers and phosphates are removed, and before the land begins to thin out, allowing a diverse herbaceaous or marsh marigold meadow to emerge, you often first see species like Rumex, Curly Dock ans Sorrels appear. These plants naturally cleanse the soil. After a few years, diversity returns, and a herb-rich landscape with peat vegetation and heath develops.’
The myths and legends in Gust van der Wall Perné’s two-volume Veluwsche Sagen were a direct source of inspiration for Hop and Svenson. Van der Wall Perné (1877, Apeldoorn – 1911, Amsterdam) died at the age of 34 from lead paint poisoning but left behind an extensive body of work despite his short life. He was not only a writer and painter but also designed book covers, illustrations, clothing, furniture, and ex libris, with the Veluwe consistently serving as his primary muse. His works are part of the CODA collection and are also featured in this exhibition.
Alongside myths and legends, recent scientific research and modern data play a crucial role in Hop and Svenson’s work. In fact, colour carries information about the environment, ecology, and the condition of the plant. Hop and Svenson collaborate with scientists to give nature a voice by treating plant colour as data. The duo does not make aesthetic choices when photographing but instead focus on the ecological conditions in which a plant grows and how these can illustrate the relationship between plants and humans.
Florachromes
A central theme of the exhibition is the abstract, monochromatic colour fields. Through these, Hop and Svenson not only present nature photography in its most primal form but also allow visitors to experience the colours of nature in their purest state. They call this series Florachromes; plant-derived pigments named after plants growing in historically significant locations. The abstract images consist solely of colour and light, without any shadowing. Peter Svenson: ‘We developed a system using a binding agent that preserves the colour extracted directly from plants without degradation, making it replicable through analogue methods. We designed and built our own reproduction unit to capture plant colours in photographs.’
The exhibition at CODA offers a unique insight into Hop and Svenson’s relationship with nature, the plant world, and the climate. Without being activist or didactic, it allows visitors to see, feel, and experience the inseparable bond between humans and nature.
© Felwa
© Felwa
© Felwa
© Felwa
© Felwa
About Arja Hop & Peter Svenson
Arja Hop (Hierden, 1968) trained at the Academy of Fine Arts Sint-Joost in Breda and later studied biology and philosophy for a year. Since 2013, she has been researching colours derived from plants growing in specific areas. Peter Svenson (Palmerston North, NZ, 1956) studied photographic technology at Wellington Polytechnic in New Zealand and later physics at the University of Auckland before moving to the Netherlands. From 1982 to 2004, he worked as an analogue photo printer in various Amsterdam laboratories. In 2005, he founded Aap-lab, where many renowned photographers have their work printed. Hop and Svenson have collaborated since 2015, sharing a fascination for experimenting with plants, colour, and analogue photographic techniques.
Publication
The photo book Felwa was created by Hop and Svenson in collaboration with graphic designer Edwin van Gelder and published by Jap Sam Books. This beautifully crafted publication, featuring silver printing, various paper types, and a semi-circular cut-out at the top left, was listed by de Volkskrant in 2024 as one of the best Dutch photo books. The book will be available for purchase at CODA Winkel during the exhibition.