Gerda Bleese is a writer, poet, and visual artist whose work seduces the mind and senses alike. Her debut collection Aan doodgaan denken we niet (2017), or We didn’t think of dying, featured ten captivating stories that teetered on the edge of mortality and fate, and entangled with the vulnerability and complexity of human existence through emotionally charged prose. Gerda’s novel Wij zijn licht (2020), or We are light, mesmerized readers into an exploration of belief, guilt and desire, and was critically received, notably winning the European Union Prize for Literature. Gerda, a graduate of the Rietveld Academy, brings her art to life with visual depth and poetic intimacy, unafraid to flirt with uncomfortable truths. Whether crafting a novel, composing a poem, or weaving textile arts, Gerda invites us to submerge in the space where beauty and pain entwine.