Pier van den Elsen

Who & What - I got a link of this movie from my mother, who is a journalist and has therefore access to per-releases. The movie will me show to the public next month. Anyway ‘Lucky’ is a story about an old men’s monotonous life  in the south of USA. Every day he wakes up, does Yoga, makes coffee, walks to the village, drinks another coffee in the bar, makes puzzles, buy’s cigarettes, drinks a Bloody Mary in the bar, goes to bed.. Some short unexpected situations makes his life a bit more exciting sometimes like: meeting an old military man in the bar, being invited at an Mexican party, fighting with a lawyer.

WHO & WHAT - On the website of the EYE museum in Amsterdam I found three short movies about the work of the winners of the yearly EYE Art & Film Prize. Founded in 2015 by EYE and the Paddy and Joan Leigh Fermor Arts Fund  to stimulate artist who work in the border area of film making and other visual arts. Teir films will be presented In the EYE museum from the 24 of March. Three completely different movies and points of views but they all show a very contemporary observations of the world and society.

Who - This movie by Wang Bing, a Chinese artist and filmmaker, seems very interesting to me. I think he shows a bit dramatic but beautiful point of view in his movie of this quickly changing and developing country. He focuses on the all day humanity that’s also going on in this huge country. Beautiful is his intense way of filming, very long shots, natural light and surrounding sounds create a certain atmosphere.

sources:

Betsy Schneider

Who & What - In the GUP magazine I came across an interesting project by the American photographer and filmmaker Betsy Scheinder named ‘To be thirteen’. Schneider explores and documents transmissions of individuals and family’s over time. In this project, which she started in 2012 on a Guggenheim Fellowship, she photographs and films 250 thirteen years old’s by spending a year on traveling across the United States. She created a very interesting documentation of this group: the age where you are somewhere between an child and a adult.

Why - I love this kind of project because it’s shows the power and the beauty of photography. I think there is no other medium that can document and show so clearly a shortly a transmission or a social issue of people as photography. I think the short film is a nice addition to this book. Because it contains sound and small typical movements of the body, which emphasizes what you can already notice in the photographs: the uniqueness of this age.

https://vimeo.com/79272149

Surrealism

Who & what - This Russian Fine art photographer Platon Yurich creates surreal images by making creatively use of photography and Photoshop. In some cases, Yurich creates his surreal scenes without the use of Photoshop. Instead, he carefully sets them up in real life.  By merging majestic landscapes with human subjects, Yurich’s images often tell stories of man’s interaction with nature.

Why - Even though in my opinion his work is a bit too much sometimes, I think it’s interesting how someone try’s to do something different with the medium photography. I think Surrealism is always an interesting subject but it’s inspiring how you can create something surreal with a camera. Since the medium is more often used to ‘copy’ reality rather then fake it. Of course there is a lot of commercial use for this images, because of it’s impact on people. Anyhow I think it’s good to explore photography in a creative way to it’s limits.

sources:

‘contemporary masters’

Who & what - The outsider art museum, located in the hermitage in Amsterdam, is a platform for the contemporary (international) autodidact art movement. Which basically is a movement of ‘artists’ without any official art education, instead they create art to express there intense and personal vision. The art historic Roger Cardinal launched the name ‘outside art’  in 1972. This recent exhibition in the museum includes a variety of work created by outsider artists combined with portraits of the artists taken by the Dutch photographer Sander Troelstra.

Why - I think this exhibition was in huge contrast with the other exhibition in the Hermitage: Dutch masters. Different period in history, definition of a ‘master’, presentation of the work, but also no crowds and low price.  Therefore very interesting to see, maybe even more interesting then the ‘Dutch masterpieces’... Nevertheless I missed a kind of craftsmanship in the works, sometimes the works were between children drawings and madness. But you can clearly see that these people are in some way independent while making art. Because they completely work with there very personal vision and ability. I think the combination photographs and other artworks is amazing. Just like in the image above, the black and white portraits and the work of Marieke Romeijn, beautifully combined. These are quiet special people as well.

sources:

https://www.outsiderartmuseum.nl/nl/

http://www.encyclo.nl/begrip/autodidactische%20kunstenaars

Weight discrimination

Who & what - I read once again an interesting article in the Dutch newspaper ‘Het Parool’ about discrimination of obese people. Often I read about this ‘modern problem’ called obesity and interesting is how I am quickly inclined to think: That’s you’re own responsibility. I am not the only one according to the article. People suffering from obesity are widely prejudiced and discriminated by doctors, at work (salary), school, in fashion and even by relatives . But why? Obese people are stereotyped as stupid, lazy, dowdy and above all it’s there own responsibility. What about lifestyle related diseases such as HIV, COPD or diabetes type 2.

Peter Lindbergh

WHO & WHAT - I found this interesting interview with Peter Lindbergh on the website of Lensculure, a magazine which has become one of the most authoritative resources for contemporary photography. Peter Lindbergh is seen as one of most important fashion photographers these times, he created a different view on fashion photography. In this interview by Maria Vittoria they talk about: how come to be this photographer? And questions as why? Do you agree with this title? Very personal questions and he seems to answer them very honestly. ‘To tell the truth,  I really don’t know why I do most of the things I do. I feel the need to create these images, but there isn’t a real reason why.’

Graphic Design?

Who & What - I read this article about an new collection book of Graphic Design, Vol. 1 between 1890-1959. This book has as goal to show the most iconic landmarks in the global Graphic Design Industry. There is an intro written by the two writers Jens Müller and David Jury translated in more then three languages. Followed by large format prints of chronological organized pictorial evolution. It shows the huge impact of graphic design in the way our world looks over the past 150 years.

Why - I think graphic design is quiet an important discipline, since it has surrounded us everywhere since it’s start. In all kinds of forms like: other art forms, postcards, commercial work, books, newspapers, magazines, internet and so on. But before I had actually no idea what Graphic Design means or includes, which is quiet embarrassing, I know. I found an definition of Graphic Design in an article by Juliette Cezzar: ‘Graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.’ I think this is an interesting subject in a world where we are all overwhelmed by visuals and information. I would love to have the book and explore this subject more.

sources:

https://www.aiga.org/guide-whatisgraphicdesign - additional information

Alex Webb in Istanbul

Who & What - I am very enthusiastic about the photo book ‘La Calle’ by the Magnum photographer Alex Webb. This is a photo project presenting an interesting view on the current situation on the US/Mexican border. With a main focus on ‘the street’ and the people. On the Magnum website I read and article with an new project by this photographer named ‘City with a hundred names’ in Istanbul or Constantinople. He uses the same photography style as in his previous project. Alex Webb says about this: "In retrospect, I think what I did during those seven years reflected a unique moment in Istanbul’s history, a time of increased openness in Turkey towards the west." Again he chose an location on a border, this time between East and West, Islam and secularism, ancient and modern.  

No reason for panic

There is a bigger chance for me to become a famous photographer then the kabk to flood by the water from the sea. But there is still a change! If there comes a ‘super storm’ (once in a ten thousand years) more then half of the Netherlands will flood. Many people will die and there will be a damage of 100 billion euro’s and thousands of people without a home or art school. I was encouraged to do some more research on this subject when I read an article on the NOS website about high water levels in the river ‘Rijn’ on Tuesday night, but there is ‘no reason for panic’ according to the Rijkswaterstaat, because we are well prepared. This organization ‘controls’ in name of the government, everything that has to do with 'Het Water’.

Why - I think in this case the why is quiet clear. Since we all life in the Netherlands this is a subject from great value and in it matters to all of us. Yet there is not many attention for this subject. But I think it’s very important that we are all aware of the threat of the water and the consequences. And to realize that only 15% of the population in the “Randstad’ can be properly evacuated by the government when there is an ‘Super storm’ coming. Total panic will occur and nobody will have any idea what to do!

sources:

- https://nos.nl/artikel/2210951-hoogwaterpiek-op-komst-maar-geen-paniek-bij-rijkswaterstaat.html

- https://www.onswater.nl/

- https://www.vn.nl/de-dreiging-die-we-allemaal-onderschatten-wat-als-het-water-komt/

Inside out

Who & What - I recently watched the documentary Inside Out about the life of the successful photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn. It’s quiet a long documentary of ninety minutes by Klaartje Quirijns, a Dutch director and journalist. Quirijns grew up in the Netherlands and moved in 1998 to New York when she graduated with a law degree from the university of Amsterdam. Since 2007 she lives in London with her family. She made several documentary as well as ‘Inside out’. In order to create this documentary she followed Anton Corbijn closely, during his work, at family parties and in his home town. Interviews about Corbijn with family members of Corbijn and other’s like the front singer of U2 are included as well.

Why - I like both the subject and the way this documentary is made. I definitely admire both Anton Corbijn his photography and films. And I think it’s nice the way Quierijns created quiet an emotional portrait of this interesting man. She documents him at home, while working, when he is with his family or in his home town where he grew up. This gives a broader view on his quiet closed personality. Sometimes I can feel that he is even opening up a little but, even if this is very short. It’s impressive story how came to photograph such famous faces and then develop as a film maker as well.

Modern photo books

Who & What - Ad van Denderen is a well known dutch photographer (but new to me). He is known for his photographs he made in Israel. In the 90s he created the photo book: ‘peace in the holy land’. He was able to capture time and crucial moments in history. The direct traditional Black and White documentary style he used in this book, has changed into a different more modern and symbolic style in his new book: ‘Stone’. He tried to create a more thoughtful image of this subject, by making use of colored images as a metaphor for what’s happening in this area. ‘Stone’ is used both to create shelter and to fight with. I think he made a nice ‘roman size’ book out of this series. He used his older images as well, to show his new point of view and his process on this subject.

Why - I think it’s nice that he made the book more accessible by decreasing the price. Therefore is it a nice format, that is light and easy to go through and to read the included texts as well. I think photo books should appear in this form more often. Bu I think the exhibition of his work in ‘het Huis Marseille’ was not as strong, as the book. Without the text in the book the series are a bit boring. 

sources: Huis marseille, exhibition: ‘Stone’

21 century

Who & What - Two articles in the Dutch/Amsterdam newspaper ‘Het parool’ caused me to do some further research on the growth of Amsterdam. The first article was about the current ‘Golden times’ for Hotel owners. There is an insane growth of tourism in Amsterdam. New policy’s to reduce this growth, for example: no new hotels or tourist shops are allowed in the city center. This development causes an paucity, which increases the prices of a hotel room quickly and attracts investors. The second (weekly) article about the growth of Amsterdam in general, had this week as subject the future plans for a new city part in the West of Amsterdam in 2050. Thousands of houses and working places are planned to be built in this part of the city. What is actually the future of Amsterdam? How far can it grow and still remain livable? According to the website of ‘Gemeente Amsterdam’ depends this mostly on the integration process of the multi culture society. But Amsterdam is facing hard times with tourism, housing, infrastructure and a mixture of culture differences, all combined with a lack of space.

Why - This subject interests me in a couple of ways. First of all my love for Amsterdam. But as well my interests for economy and geography. I think it’s fascinating to think and to read about the growth of this city and how this will all workout in the future. How will this city finance it’s growth anyway, while Amsterdam hotels are sold for 300 million euro’s to international investors. Is it actually possible that so many cultures and tourist life together on such a small surface? All questions to think about, but what are the answers? I think politics and money play a big part in this development.

Sources:

- Parool 4th january page 6 and 7 article about hotels in Amsterdam

- Parool 4th january page 16 and 17 article about the growth of Amsterdam

- https://www.amsterdam.nl/toerisme-vrije-tijd/over-amsterdam/geschiedenis/ history and future of Amsterdam

 https://scroll.lab.nos.nl/een-kleurrijke-dood#11785

Who & What - This morning I found this multimedia story on the Dutch news website NOS. It’s about the end of the colorful world of coral, which won’t take much longer. In the past thirty year 50% of the coral worldwide died. Coral reefs are a home and breeding ground for more then 25% of the fish on this planet. Without coral, no tuna. And if that’s not enough, 30 million people worldwide are completely dependent on coral. But unfortunately, according to scientist will in 2050 all coral be destroyed. Causes are: tourism, dumped garbage and chemicals and most of all: the rising water temperature of the sea. This all is clearly explained in this nice multimedia story. Because of the sounds, video material, other images and text has the message more impact, then just a written article about coral.

Vulnerable youth

Who & What - For the first time I bought an issue of well-known British ‘I-D magazine’. A training ground for young talent and a platform for fashion, music, art and youth culture. It was founded in 1980 by the former art director of the Vogue, Terry Jones. I found this series shot by the talented photographer Matt Jones very interesting. These are portraits of young Americans. What the series is exactly about is not completely clear to me. But I think it’s a way of showing the importance of the youth. There is a sentence included that says: “If the kids are united they’ll never be divided.’ repeated three times. Sometimes other quotes are included as well.

Why - I am very interested in making portraits of people, so it’s nice to see some examples of I think nice portraiture and to think about why they’re nice. I think in this series are shown very nicely small or big details that engage with the persons, such like scars, other marks, clothing, objects, hairstyles. I think those details can say a lot about a person. As well as the way they look into the camera. The photographs really gives me the feeling that I look at a real  persons. I also like the different kind of  persons that have been photographed, still they all have something in common. A certain vulnerability and sadness.

Sources:

- I-D magazine N.O 350 (Listen) page 300 till 321

Anton Heyboer

Who & What - Anton Heyboer (1924 - 2005) is a very a peculiar and quiet unknown Dutch artist. I visited a current exhibition of his work in ‘het Gemeentemusuem Den Haag’. Anton Heyboer lived with his 4 wives in a community in Den Ilp in the Netherlands. This was also the place where he created all his art. His art was closely related with his personal life. His fifth wive lived across the street and sold his work. In the 60′s and 70′s he was actually a very important artist in the international art-world. He had an exhibition in Kassel Documenta. As well as in Los Angeles, where he was presented as one of the most important painters in the western world, just as artists like David Hockney and Lucian Sanders. Even the MoMa in New York purchases his work. By destroying his valued paintings, he got back his freedom according to him, but this meant also the end of his success. Like one of his wives says a video: ‘He was somewhere between a genius and a madman.’

Why - I visited an exhibition with Anton Heyboer his work in The Hague and I was fascinated by both the man and his work. I think his paintings and his photographs were actually really weird. But very complex and interesting as well, full of symbols and hidden messages. I did not find any beauty in his work but I still liked to look at them. Just because I could feel that this man had a complete freedom when he created his work. Isolated in his huge house with his five wives, without any distractions.

Sources:

Graffiti in nature

Who & What - Apparently Graffiti artists are not stuck to urban environments. At least according to the graffiti artist Evengy Ches. He painted his art on cellphone stretched around two trees, inspired on the work by the French artists Kanos and Astro. With this technique called ‘Cellograf’ he painted animals in their natural environments.

Why - I think it’s a nice idea and try to move this ‘Urban Art form’ to another environment. But I think that the works look a bit misplaced in this natural environment, because both the graffiti and the plastic aren’t natural at all. Even though the painted animals are fitting visually with their ‘environment’. Therefore are this graffiti very temporary, in contrast with traditional graffiti art in urban environments. But I still think it’s an interesting idea to try something completely different with this kind of ‘Art forms’.