RUS x Imke Ligthart
Photographer and muse Imke Ligthart welcomes us at her home in the woods in The Netherlands. There, surrounded by nature, fellow photographer Lobke Leijser captures and explores the transformation of the female body during pregnancy.
Photographed by Lobke Leijser in collaboration with Editor Sophie de Groot.
Imke wearing the NAMI shirt dress in Matcha.
Imke wearing the REFLET shirt in Eggshell.
How would you describe RUS universe in three words?
Infinite, pure, soft.
What are some of your personal “small pleasures”? What effect do they have on you?
Living outside. I love to be outside, I guess it's my biggest form of happiness. Preferably together with other people.
Moving my body with long walks of hours of dancing. It restores my sense of inner peace, it brings my mind body and spirit back into balance. It burns everything that needs to be burned and dance brings me joy and creativity. I get energized by movement. And of course, healthy food made with love, shared with friends while spending hours at the table is also a number one for me. Discovering new places is a huge small pleasure. And last, I cant resist sunsets! So cliché but I love the colors that come with it. Quick changing beautiful colors that paint everything around. It brings me into a state of bliss.
Imke wearing the SENSU sweater and SHOJI pants.
Imke wearing the SENSU sweater and SHOJI pants.
How has motherhood changed your world in the last few months? What’s on your horizon?
I’ve lived quite an extraordinary life, off-grid, nomadic, and spontaneous. Now I'm less flexible and need more stability but this little sweet creature widened my horizon enormously. Honestly, I love motherhood much more than I expected! Being pregnant changed my body physically and my hips are weak at the moment. I face the difficulty that walking takes more effort (sometimes I literally feel like a granny) but hopefully, that will heal soon so I feel freer. What's in future I don't know, for sure it will all be a new big adventure.
What sort of rituals do you perform to relax, recenter, or regenerate creatively?
To relax when I am stressed or tired I love to burn some lavender oil, listen to music, and burn candles while I practice yoga or get a massage from my boyfriend.
Also I love to (re-) organize and clean my living space. I'm quite messy, but only when my space is in order I feel grounded.
Imke wearing the JANGURU sweater in Miso.
Imke wearing the NAMI shirt dress in Matcha.
Imke in the SHOJI pants in Ink.