With Magnifying Dali I wanted to conclude my series with a gesture grand enough for Dalí himself. Over 130 cm, an XL portrait that makes his magic palpable one more time.

The photograph on which this work is based shows Dalí's absurdity. Because for me this the power not only in the composition, but in what happened: that reflection, that distortion, that absurd magnification. An image that sums up his whole spirit: playful, headstrong, always larger than life itself.

My challenge was to translate that into textiles: to use thread to give the eye a new intensity, bigger and closer than in the photograph itself. For the background, I deliberately chose a warm ochre yellow colour, to keep the focus entirely on his portrait and contrast it with the bright colours in the face, giving it its own intensity.

Magnifying Dali thereby became more than a portrait. It became a conclusion to the series in which I made his spirit great one more time. A work that shows Dalí's playfulness and magic in textiles. That inspires to be allowed to think big.

This work is on display and also available through art gallery Unit4Art in Gouda.