Praise for Dendroism is already emerging as the first copies of this publication have been presented. Wood artist Emile van der Kruk describes it as a beautiful collection of images that, for the first time, signals an international trend. Increasingly, artists take the original shape of a tree—or the structure of the wood itself—as their starting point. “Dendro” is the Greek word for tree.
Praise for Dendroism from Emile van der Kruk, after receiving his first copy of the book.
Emile van der Kruk has a permanent exhibition at Beeldengalerij Het Depot in Wageningen, in Villa Peppel. Dozens of his sculptures are on display there—raw, yet at the same time remarkably tender.
Testimonial – Emile van der Kruk
After carefully studying his first copy of Dendroism, he said to me:
“With the rediscovery of the visual language of growing wood, a new movement in art has reconnected us with ourselves. We did not realize it before. But now we do.”
At this stage in his life, Van der Kruk is currently preparing what he calls his ‘final’ exhibition. Although the founder of Het Depot acquired almost his entire oeuvre in one go, he continued working with great dedication. His studio in Amersfoort invites hours of looking and discovering. It also reveals striking contrasts: three large wooden shells stand beside two snowmen. Behind them, a small bronze sculpture of ‘Eve’, wedged between a tree trunk, leaving Paradise.
The 52-page Dendroism includes two of his works. One shows a rough rootstock with an ear emerging from it: “Uprooted Ear.” Its message is clear: “We have been torn away from nature. We must learn to listen again.”
Testimonial – Eveline van Duyl
This call resonates with several artists featured in Dendroism. Eveline van Duyl is currently exhibiting at Beeldengalerij Het Depot as well, with a temporary show. Particularly striking are her sculptures with hyper-realistically painted eyes, which seem to be born from the trees themselves.
After reading Dendroism several times, she writes.
“Dendroism is a beautiful book, so carefully designed and produced. Made with great love and attention. We keep returning to it. The texts are also very beautiful and engaging. We are fans and truly enthusiastic.”
These are typical observations of an artist who works in wood. Dendroism also invites you not just to look, but to keep looking—until the image reveals itself.
Testimonial – Christine Langerhorst
An important pioneer of Dendroism is the Utrecht-based artist Christine Langerhorst. She was among the first to place figures within the wood—such as a dog or a bird—at the center of her wooden ‘books’. She welcomes the way Dendroism brings together works that clearly point to a broader development within visual art.
Her testimonial reads:
“I show Dendroism to everyone. The booklet describes a field of great value, because it gives priority to nature within the wood. That is incredibly important and has never been sufficiently appreciated. Knots and deformations were often seen as flaws, while for a Dendroist they can be sources of inspiration—or even the starting point.”
Testimonial – Leo Mesman
Dendroism is not limited to visual art. Poet Leo Mesman has written extensively about trees, often attributing human qualities to them. More than ten years ago, we created an illustrated poetry collection together: Declarations of Love.
Mesman has continued to follow my visual work closely. He writes:
“Jan Bom is a man with a mission. For many years a journalist on sustainability, and now increasingly an artist who shares his fascination with wood—dead or alive—through enthusiastic stories and his own intriguing wooden sculptures.”
An important source of inspiration in my own journey has been the association Guts en Klopper. There I met people who prefer working directly with raw tree trunks, rather than carving figures from neatly pre-sawn blocks. Its chairman, Tom Ligthart, became my ‘carving companion’. He critically reviewed an early proof, after which I continued to develop Dendroism for more than a year.
Testimonial – Tom Ligthart
Ligthart reflects on the dual sources of inspiration:
“In Jan Bom’s work, gold and wood come together—one material renewable, its supply in principle continuously replenished, the other not and almost finite. In your booklet Dendroism, you show how you have found your own style by combining these two opposites into a beautiful whole. I am also delighted (pun intended!) that you mention the young association Guts en Klopper of amateur wood sculptors, of which you became a member and to which you contribute as part of a larger whole.
Dendroism, in proper Dutch ‘dendroïsme’, shows that nature can not only inspire a work of art, but can truly become part of it. And it is not the least of sculptors who have worked in this way—artists such as Brancusi and Penone. I look forward to all the beauty that we, as amateur sculptors, inspiring one another, will continue to create in our studio at Landgoed Oud Zandbergen. Your booklet is certainly a source of inspiration for that.”
Available at the museum shop of Het Depot
The first edition of Dendroism is now available at the museum shop of Het Depot in Wageningen, from Thursday, April 2, 2026. The total edition is limited to 100 numbered and signed copies, each art booklet is numbered and signed. Dendroism is priced at €15. Availability via this website, Wowwood, will follow.
Jan Bom
April 1, 2026
