Uut de Oud'n Doos (Aflevering 4)

I have the Flu.

And when you have the flu, you also have the need to do absolutely nothing for a week.So I'm currently doing all this "nothing" at my parents, wich is always interesting. Not only was I reunited with all my childhood toys, but also with a huge box of CD-Roms that i've forgotten about a long time ago. "Sort this out while your here" my mother commanded. "Its been in the way for ages." I looked at the box, and wonderd what spirits possessed me when I was 16. Not only was I a huge video game freak (who had to get a copy of every game that would come out) I also collected tons of movies and anime. The CDs in the box were part of my -once so glorious- collection . I rememberd having a special drawer with lock and all where i stored them away carefully - sorted out on theme and colour (No comment)

Today however, there seemed not much left of this love. With most cases broken and empty , I wished that I used to collect Records instead. They would atleast be nice to look at. While some Discs gave me a smile on my face (Oh my! MY favourite old Indiana Jones game!)More often they just seemed like riddles (What the fuck is"escaflowne20-26XOV"). And there also used to be a time that I couldnt afford a marker - wich results in tons of blank cds.

But not all of it was ready for the dump. I also found a CD with some of my very first Photo's on it. (Wich werent taken to long ago - my first year in Artschool at Utrecht). Next to a bunch of shots I took from food in the studio (wich are to cheesy/arty farty not to show) I also ....found my first staged photograph...EVER! (top image) Im suprised how close it is to the work I do now. Oeh and small nice detail: its me in the bathtub as well

Oh and here some studio freaking on fruit.

How Oklahoma's finest reinvented themselfs.

A thought on the new flaming lips album "Embryonic"



There are two types artists in this world. The one who gets succes, and keeps on doing the same "succesfull" thing - and the artist who does whatever floats his boat at the moment.

The flaming lips would qualify in the later category. "Weird" is the only factor that can be predicted. And what an impressive diverse and long carreer they have already. From An MTV Hit - to A record that consist out of 4 cds (that need to be played simultaniously) - and, oh yeah; a feauture lenght film "Christmas on Mars" with; afcourse; a marsian Santa - and the occasional marching vagina band. While they finally seemed to produce more accessible stuff (Their last record At War with the Mystics even got decent radio play) they are totally back in the drugesque-psychedelic-estetics with their latest release "Embryonic". Accessible? No! Platinum selling? Most defenitly not! Radio play? Forget it!.But... Admirable and inspiring? Yes!

With their newest release, the Flaming lips made a double CD that most sounds like an lengthy jamsession on LSD. Its not polished, there is a lot of random noise that make those tiny hairs in your neck stand up- and, the whole record structure is just fucking confusing. If you skip trough each song fast, it sounds like every song is the same. Say what? Even a more careful listen has the same outcome. Most likeley youll pauze after 15 minutes though, worried about ear-damage
Pulsating Basses, Glitchy Noise and Fuzzy Guitars rule this album - but the occasional lush "String-scapes" and heavenly harps make the 70 minute noise parade a bit more bearable (And flaminglipesque).

So why is this record still on repeat in my Itunes playlist? Well - artist who can accomplish to suprise me everytime deserve my attention. And im still trying to figure out half of the disorted lyrics. Ultimatly its just very inspiring. I mean - I wish i could accomplish the same with my Photography. Keep on reinventing myself....so i can bring bring a lot of suprises to the world. What will my next "Embryonic" be?

Listen to the album opening track here or go look for the full freakshow on Google

Burn, baby burn!

Just got back from the Noorderlicht Photofestival in Groningen, and I already have to prepare for the next festival - Todays Art 2009 - wich will take place on friday and saturday in The Hague.
I wanted to share this poster with you all; there is something spectaculair about seeing your favourite dutch city burn (never mind the weird colours that i tried to adjust in photoshop. The original image is really bleak and blue.)
I hope the festival will be a blast (haha) as well, even though i heard it will be smaller and more introvert as usual (the recession!). Noorderlicht was troubeld with the same issue - wich led to a lot of strange decisions. A report on that one will be up next.

In the tower, above the Earth.

Where do you find time to do usefull things when....

- Your house is crowded by germans everynight, who love to drink beer accompanied with greasy snacks and good movies.

- So i'm im sort of forced into an intensive German languagecourse right now

- Occasionally it gets even more international with Danish, British and Spanish visitors.

- Even though the conversations get more and more confusing this way. Sometimes all those languages in your head get mixed up, and make you reply like "Gracies, Ich find auch that you have erge mooie Eyes habt" Uhh.. thanks. Next time a German Beer less maybe.

- Oh and "school".....your Your main teacher is on "paid" holliday for five weeks. So there is no "School"

- When there is an awesome art festival going on every weekend. Gogbot, The Twente Bienale, Noorderlicht Photo Festival Groningen, Todays Art The Hague (I only summed up what I'm visting this week) - and lots of other exhibitions too. I seriously could spend a year with just visiting artshows all day. (Paris Photo anyone?)

- They all come with pretty nice partys and performances. So your set for the night as well.

- The weather, for once, is PERFECT.

- You can go to the cinema for free becouse you do your groceries at the Albert Heijn supermarket

- You could also stay at home and build a 10thousand euro theater, since you have the keys of the Audiovisual rental department anyway.

- I finnally recieve my daily copy of the NY Times here. So much to read !

- there is nothing to photograph in Enschede anyway....

A good reason why I havent posted lately....

The Gogbot Festival is currently taking place in Enschede, which features a lot of cool Installation art, Music and alcohol. I already had a lot of random moments at the festival, like drinking Vodka with a lot of russian chicks in a Space Rocket, Musical jam sessions with drunk Germans, Beatboxing with a midget, and a lot of dancing till 6 on excellent Djs. Tonight is the last night of the festival - so don't hesitate to check it out. I need approx. 3 days of recovering after this, so check back around Wednesday for a new post ;)

A random encounter with toys, on a beach in Vancouver.