Lilitu

Erik Odijk

'Lilitu'

Erik Odijk's oeuvre is important because of the concise depiction of one of the great subjects of our time: the changing perception of nature. In his work he captures the split feeling of the nature traveller, who knows that every step he takes may damage this environment, but who nevertheless cannot resist the call of the wilderness. The inner contradiction that this artist/traveller experiences emerges convincingly in his lyrics about the current call for nature in our culture. In his text for the Power of Place study trip in the United States in 2007, Erik Odijk writes:

“Arcadic duality is a theme I delve into. The two kinds of Arcadia: rough and lovely, dark and light... The pastoral Arcadia of good taste, harmony and adapted forms against the wild, rough and disturbing Arcadia like a wilderness. There was and still is a need for both forms. Many city and landscape parks in urban areas fit into the lovely Arcadia, they are places for relaxation, recreation and social interaction. Social places with social trees, social hills and social water features supported by social facilities and infrastructure. In addition, there is a need for 'wild nature' again. The tendency is to transform our Arcadian agricultural landscapes into wild nature. Dikes are breached, river vliet forests are created that are exposed to and shaped by natural violence, complete with 'wild animals' thrown back on themselves. Where is the boundary between the orderly and safe landscape of gardens, parks and cultural landscapes and the rugged, wild 'inhospitable' landscape that is so feared? Is that limit there?"