First monograph of visual artist Strook

‘He saves the stories that no one else remembers
He puzzles histories together into one story
And gathers portraits
Of us all.’

— Wannes Cappelle

Artist Stefaan De Croock (1982-), aka Strook, became well known for his ‘heads’ made of scrap wood. The key theme of his layered collages, sculptures and installations is, in a word, time, and is visible in every piece of the rough, patinated raw material he chooses to compose his works. Most frequently this is wood. ‘Old, weathered materials have a magical quality in my view. They contain a particular spontaneity that is impossible to recreate. The colours, the paint, the relief… they form an imprint of everything the material ever experienced. You can truly see time.’

Strook paints with wood and sculpts with time. This book presents a selection of his ‘heads’, paintings and sculptures, offering a fascinating glimpse of his art practice over the past ten years.

As part of the ‘Mind the Artist’ project by Musea Brugge, work by Strook will be on show from 30 October 2021 to 6 March 2022 at various historic locations throughout the city.

With texts by Thijs Demeulemeester and contributions from Wannes Cappelle, Koen Van Damme and Stephan Vanfleteren.

First monograph of visual artist Strook

‘He saves the stories that no one else remembers
He puzzles histories together into one story
And gathers portraits
Of us all.’

— Wannes Cappelle

Artist Stefaan De Croock (1982-), aka Strook, became well known for his ‘heads’ made of scrap wood. The key theme of his layered collages, sculptures and installations is, in a word, time, and is visible in every piece of the rough, patinated raw material he chooses to compose his works. Most frequently this is wood. ‘Old, weathered materials have a magical quality in my view. They contain a particular spontaneity that is impossible to recreate. The colours, the paint, the relief… they form an imprint of everything the material ever experienced. You can truly see time.’

Strook paints with wood and sculpts with time. This book presents a selection of his ‘heads’, paintings and sculptures, offering a fascinating glimpse of his art practice over the past ten years.

As part of the ‘Mind the Artist’ project by Musea Brugge, work by Strook will be on show from 30 October 2021 to 6 March 2022 at various historic locations throughout the city.

With texts by Thijs Demeulemeester and contributions from Wannes Cappelle, Koen Van Damme and Stephan Vanfleteren.