Artist Ati Emmerik has a unique view of the world. She sees emotion, aesthetics, and humor where others see only trash. A garbage dump full of rusty, discarded items awakens her inner treasure hunter. And she wonders: am I the only one to see the beauty of these objects? Isn’t this ‘old’ gorgeous?

‘Verroest verliefd’ (Rusty and in love) is the result of four years of working hard, exploring, and daring. Ati’s eyes searched endlessly for beautiful, discarded objects. She was at times moved by their beauty, and marveled at times past when things were made so skillfully you wouldn’t want to part with them, you might even fall in love with them. A stark contrast to today's throwaway culture.

With ‘Verroest verliefd’, Ati wants to share what she sees in the rusty trash, how it makes her feel. With her photography and writings, she gives these discarded objects a new life. Her pictures reveal the enchantment of these objects, her writings give them a voice that resonates with their former purpose. What was once discarded turns out to be full of character, humor, and emotion.

After her sabbatical, Ati Emmerik returns with this remarkable publication that combines image, texture, and epigrams. Anyone who has seen and read this book will forever have a different perspective on everyday objects.