Bridge to Sidemen by Bianca ter Riet

About "Bridge to Sidemen"

by Bianca ter Riet

About the artwork

Hidden deep in Sidemen's lush landscape, a narrow vista opens among the foliage. Between the shadows of tropical vegetation, an enchanting scene unfolds. Tall trees with robust trunks rise on either side, their crests catching the filtered sunlight falling in golden patches on the jungle floor. The scent of wet earth, fresh wood and ripe leaves fills the humid air.

Before you is a calm river meandering through the valley, its banks lined with smooth, rounded boulders in shades of grey, some covered with a dark green layer of moss. The water flows gently, clear and cool, rippling around the stones. In the morning light, the surface of the river looks like a living reflective carpet - with reflections of the foliage, the sky and the bridge that spans the water.

The bridge is simple, rustic, almost poetic in its modesty. Made of stone and concrete, it rests on robust stones on both banks. It looks as if it has been part of the landscape for years, like a path for local farmers, children on their way to school or a lone walker in search of silence. The wooden planks are dark with moisture, some slightly warped by time, but still sturdy enough to walk on. The railings, if there are any, are low and overgrown with climbing plants that give the bridge an almost natural look.

All around, vegetation grows in abundance: ferns, banana plants, shrubs with broad leaves and wildflowers in splashes of colour. Palm trees rise further up, slender and graceful against the backdrop of gently rolling hills. A thin mist hangs over the water, like a whisper of morning mist slowly dissolving in the warm sunlight.

The silence is broken only by the rushing of the water, the singing of birds, and the gentle creaking of bamboo in the wind. Everything exudes simplicity, serenity and a deep connection with nature.