Sirens & Sailors

This series is in a sense a continuation of 'Girls', because Noortje surprises us once more with bright colours, humour and beautiful women. Yet there are also some important differences. "This time I wanted to add men to the context. Instead of portraying them as puppets I gave them a personality. They became hefty fellows but with a certain caressability. They are very manly and yet they are not hunks. Moreover, I could not resist to add comic elements that you would never spontaneously associate with men, such as floaties or toys," said Noortje. In her quest for beautiful backgrounds, she bumped into colourful walls that brought heaps of new inspiration. "I associate red, white and blue with the navy, a theme that has always charmed me. Thus the theme "Sirens & Sailors". The tough guys are carrying a woman and it is up to the audience to determine where they are going." Unique aspect of these portraits is that men and women are standing next to each other without any sexual tension. "A conscious choice, since I wanted to make love portraits," Noortje concludes.