Art Imitates Adventure: an Interview with Quinda Verheul 

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Quinda Verheul
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Quinda Verheul
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ART IMITATES ADVENTURE: AN INTERVIEW WITH QUINDA VERHEUL 

Multi-media artist and PEdALED athlete Quinda Verheul finds inspiration in exploration. Navigating her ever-broadening horizons on two wheels, she translates the diversity and disparity of natural and manmade landscapes alike into unique creative expressions that invite viewers to consider seemingly familiar environments from a fresh perspective. When Quinda’s not challenging audiences at galleries, she’s pushing personal boundaries, bikepacking through some remote destination or competing in events like the Atlas Mountain Race. Read on to learn more about the frequently intersecting paths that define Quinda’s journey through our short conversation below.  

How did your interests in both art and exploration first begin?

Q: In 2015, I graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven. I then lived in Berlin for a few years when I felt the urge to travel and explore the world—without a plan, just the idea that things would unfold however they may. It might sound naïve, but I still enjoy this mindset. So, I sold all my belongings, had no apartment, and rode from Berlin to the south of Spain, where I fell in love with the desert landscape. 

I crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and arrived in Morocco in 2017, traveling for months around the country. I was then ready for a different experience and left for Thailand, and after Thailand to Singapore, then Indonesia, where I stayed for seven months and where my art practice started, meeting incredible artist communities and having the opportunity to exhibit at a Gallery in Yogyakarta.  

Do you find there’s a lot of cross-over between these two worlds? How do your days on the saddle—the effort, the landscapes, the people, the colors—get translated into your art? 

Q: For a long time, I preferred to keep my two passions separate; this made the most sense to me. Until one day, it all clicked, how both worlds were so intertwined. My work has always been about landscapes, how they change through natural erosion, but also, and perhaps mostly, the human impact in the drastic changes to the environment. I enjoy shining a light on often invisible yet destructive industries, such as mining and sand dredging. 

And yet, on the opposite end, there’s an absolute love for the landscape, which I get to experience fully when I’m racing and going for long bikepacking trips. Here, I fully surrender to where I am and what the route brings me, untangling myself from the everyday clutter, while the scenery, light, and all the elements change, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and learning its limits. Those images of the landscape stick with me; and often, new ideas and visions for work are born while being in the midst of it all. 



When I’m back, the planning for new series starts, and I get to play with materials, pigments, and new techniques to translate the magic I’ve seen out there into artworks. For both racing and making art, a lot of preparation and planning is required before the actual job is done. I have to admit, it isn't always my favorite part, but when done well, it means I get to enjoy the final process freely and intuitively, which is the ultimate dream—a flow that can be experienced while racing, too, where everything feels right. It's a very empowering feeling. 

Both cycling and art can be emotionally driven—and demanding—pursuits. What has your experience been like navigating the highs and lows of each interest?  

 Q: Despite the dream life I've created for myself, it does come with anxiety to be my absolute best. The feeling of failure, of not training enough, of not preparing enough—it can always be done better. The same goes for making art pieces; I would hang it on the wall, walk away, and my stomach would sink to the floor. It’s the strangest feeling to be overwhelmed with utter disappointment or to expect that a piece would drop to the floor and shatter into a million pieces. 

 

Since I had an impactful accident almost three years back, I don’t have the same energy levels. This means I have to be very mindful and balance my priorities and recovery time carefully. I’m a little less reckless, I listen to my body, which tells me a lot and reminds me to be aware of what needs to be done to recover. During the Atlas Mountain Race, I felt completely empty in the first few days. This was very challenging and saddened my mood. I did manage to recover, focus on the beauty, and trust my body, while listening carefully to how much I could push. 

 

On day four or five, I burst into tears of joy, feeling absolutely grateful to be there, to feel strong, overcoming the low moments to feel so confident and determined to finish this race. My thoughts went to all those that support me, encourage me in my passions. What an honor to live such a passionate life and be surrounded by amazing souls that dream as big as I do. And I get to share my experiences with the rest of the world.  

What’s an example of a memorable moment from one of your adventures that has found its way into your artwork?  

 

Q: My recent series is all about Kyrgyzstan, the Silk Road Mountain Race, my absolute dream race. The last pass on the route took about seven hours, and within those hours, the light and elements changed, and so did my mood along as I climbed to a higher altitude, nearly hitting 4,000 meters. Leaving the valley, clouds came in and soft snow fell, which changed into hail and then into the sun breaking through the clouds—absolute magic.  

 

The sun started to set, changing colors alongside the change in rock formations from grey to red stones and rubble covering the road. The stars came out, and every now and then, full darkness took over as the galaxy was hidden behind a curtain of clouds. In the last kilometer to the peak, the clouds broke, and the moon peeked over the top of the mountain, shining bright into the valley, soft white light covering the curves in a blanket of mysteriousness. I’ll never forget that moment, how this was such an energy boost, to make that final push happen. 

You can follow Quinda’s ongoing journeys on Instagram @avoidtheavoid or online at studioquinda.com 

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