To offer new ways of engaging with our scientific work, we often collaborate with artists. Photographer Jasper Zijlstra immersed himself in Waakvogels, residing at Richel for a week and participating in field work at Schiermonnikoog, Balgzand and Griend.

Next spring, we’ll present his audiovisual work Habitat, featuring large portraits of mudflats. The images capture sand, water, and light as they appear in different places and at different times. In addition to the photographs, the voice of behavioural ecologist Allert Bijleveld draws attention to easily overlooked details in the mudflats.

Zijlstra kicked off his project with a residency in the Wadtoren on Richel. There, he explored how the knowledge and attention emerging from our research practices could be translated into photography and visual art. His first observations were immediate and physical. “The light is phenomenal because it is continuous and reflected everywhere by water,” he notes. “Even when the mudflats are dry, small pools mirror the light.”

Gradually, he developed a connection with the seabed itself. Different types of sand, shades, and patterns became visible under his feet. In an empty landscape, where only his footprints remained, he became aware of his movement patterns. “I see that, as a photographer, I explore the area much like a sanderling does: in constant motion.”

This attentive, investigative approach is characteristic of Zijlstra’s work. He mainly works with photography, but his projects always begin with long-term research. Every step is documented in images and written observations, allowing him to step back, review, and reflect when needed. His art does not provide finished answers; it shares observations — about science, nature, sustainability, and the ways we live and perceive together.

The exhibition to be presented next spring forms a new chapter in this exploration. Here’s a sneak preview.