FTN-blog

My passion for cinema bloomed during my time in art school. I was particularly drawn to boundary-pushing films that defied genres and blurred the lines between film and art. This fascination with idiosyncratic visuals led me to specialize in the visual arts, eventually gravitating towards the world of (short) films where I found my true calling. Driven by my love for both mediums, I established near/by film to bridge the gap between them.

As the founder of near/by film, I have the pleasure of immersing myself in every aspect of film production. From nurturing emerging filmmakers and artists to bringing my own film projects to life, I get to do what I love every day. Additionally, I curate film programs for festivals and cinema spaces, conduct research, and seek out exciting collaborations. Guided by a passion for pushing boundaries and exploring the unknown, I continue to grow and thrive in the world of film.

Manon possesses an MA in Film & Photographic Studies, awarded with distinction from the prestigious University of Leiden. She also holds a BA from the esteemed Academy for Arts & Design in Den Bosch. Her experience includes working as a curator for ZAAL5/Filmhuis Den Haag, Urban Explorers Festival, and independent exhibition spaces. She serves as an advisor for VAF and Stroom Den Haag, and has taught at KABK Den Haag and St. Joost Breda. Manon is also an external examiner for the Master Film program at the renowned Dutch Film Academy in Amsterdam.

With ten years of programming experience at Go Short Film Festival, Manon continues to create specialized film programs for other festivals and venues. As a visual artist, she has exhibited her work at prominent institutions such as Centraal Museum, Kunstfort Vijfhuizen, KW14, Wetering Galerie, and Kunsthalle Hamburg. Her compelling animations have been presented in both exhibition spaces and film festivals.

www.ftn-books.com has the JULIA/GIULIANA production now available.

In her work, Esther Kokmeijer delves into our relationship with nature. She wondered what desire lay at the foundation of constructing a seven-meter high waterfall at the Paltz, in the heart of the forests of Soest. It seems to be a romantic desire to mimic the sublimity of nature and thus gain a certain control over our natural environment. Nowadays, we, as humans, are going even further in this pursuit. Through Geo-engineering, we are able to manipulate rain and dim the sun, among other things. The work Feeding the Waterfall emerged from a longing to learn from natural systems and to harness nature itself for creative solutions to fundamental problems.

Esther created a vortex, fed by the waterfall. This intervention will lead to flourishing water on the estate. A few years ago, it was scientifically proven that using a vortex inspired by nature dissolves air in water, thereby increasing the rate of oxygen transfer. Esther created her work in collaboration with water physicist Elmar C. Fuchs from the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology (Wetsus), and it is part of research aiming to utilize this process for the production of drinking water and the purification of wastewater, for which oxygen in water plays an essential role.

www.ftn-books.com has the Kokmeijer invitation for het HEDEN exhibition available.

Exuding extraordinary vigor, Thomas Houseago manipulates materials like clay, plaster, and stone to manifest surreal, golem-like beings. His creations inevitably evoke associations with the concept of the golem, a being formed from clay and brought to life by a rabbi according to an ancient Jewish legend. Houseago’s figures are imperfect creatures, partly human, partly animal. They are anonymous yet imbued with spirit, simultaneously terrifying and familiar. Through his oeuvre, he strives to erect a monument to the true human experience – a physical counterweight to a culture that is defined by the stylized images portrayed in magazines, TV shows, and movies. Houseago’s work is a fervent plea for preserving the ancient art form of sculpture.

In all of Houseago’s work, the human body and the concept of being human take center stage. His goal is not to create a perfect image, but rather to depict, in an unadorned and raw manner, how a body feels, moves, and is constructed. His work intentionally aligns with a long tradition of sculptors such as August Rodin, Medardo Rosso, Pablo Picasso, and Henry Moore. Nonetheless, he has developed his own unique signature through his unusual combination of materials, the interplay between two- and three-dimensional elements, and the fusion of sculptural traditions and mythological themes with elements from popular culture.

The exhibition in the Project Space showcases a combination of early and very recent work. A key focus of the exhibition is the time he spent studying at the Ateliers in Amsterdam. The earliest work in the exhibition, ‘Head of a Golem’ (1998), he considers to be where his ideas from that period first fully came to fruition. Conscious allusions to this formative ‘Dutch’ period, in which he was taught by artists such as Marlene Dumas and Jan Dibbets, can be seen in the new works he created specifically for this exhibition.

Before attending De Ateliers, Thomas Houseago studied at Central Saint Martins School of Arts in London. After graduating, he lived and worked in Brussels for several years before moving to Los Angeles, California.

www.ftn-books.com hasnow the invitation for his Gemeentemuseum exhibition available.

Ohad Maiman (Hebrew: אוהד מיימון) was born in Israel in 1977; after completing his studies, he served for 3 years in the Israel Defense Forces. He then embarked on extensive travels in the Far East and South America before settling in New York City in 1999. In 2003, he attained a degree in philosophy and visual arts from Columbia University, cementing his passion for intellectual and creative pursuits. He currently resides and works in the bustling metropolis of New York City.

After graduating, Ohad Maiman embarked on a collaboration with Eytan Rockaway to launch A Matter of Substance – a multifaceted media and entertainment company that encompasses music, film, and television. In 2007, the company shifted gears to a new venture – Amos TV, a popular TV channel.

Throughout his career, Maiman has exhibited his photography in a multitude of group shows, including a solo exhibition at the prestigious Richard Avedon studio in December 2005. His stunning photographs and thought-provoking writings from 2004 to 2007 have been compiled into the compelling trilogy ‘Theory of Wants’, which was published by Damiani Editore in October 2008. He also had a solo show at Milk Gallery to coincide with the book release. In New York, Maiman is represented by Carlo Zeitschel at CVZcontemporary. His upcoming exhibition at the renowned Richard Young Gallery in the fall of 2011 is eagerly anticipated by art enthusiasts.

With his literary and artistic talents, Ohad Maiman continues to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide, leaving a lasting mark in the world of art and culture.

www.ftn-books.com has the THEORY OF WANTS book by Maiman nowe available.

Izaak Zwartjes (Leiden, 1974) is a Dutch visual artist. He creates monumental sculptures and installations using decayed and deteriorating objects and materials.

Zwartjes currently resides and works in Leiden. He received his education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, graduating in 2008. For his final exhibition, Zwartjes created the installation The Laboratory Of Life, depicting a “post-apocalyptic world” where he aimed to merge science, religion, and art. Since 2008, Zwartjes’ work has been featured in multiple exhibitions, including one at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen..ftn-books.com has the NEST invitation now available.

Zwartjes’ pieces are best characterized as “environments”: a confined space where various episodes from a mythical story, conceived by the artist, unfold. He creates these installations using discarded materials collected during his wanderings through the city.

Following his graduation work The Laboratory Of Life, Zwartjes continued with the environment Exodus, exhibited at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen in 2009. Exodus tells a “post-apocalyptic” tale of a degenerated society of cloned beings in a desolate landscape, crafted using decayed and deteriorating materials.Through this work, Zwartjes subtly hints at the absurdity and meaninglessness of existence.

www.ftn-books.com has the NEST invitation now available.

Human Language and Imagery: The Hallmarks of Mat van der Heijden’s Work
Mat van der Heijden (1964) seamlessly weaves together text and image in his creations. Known for his unique blend of recognizable figures and geometric patterns, he also incorporates letters and words in seemingly arbitrary fashion across his drawings and paintings. Take a moment to delve deeper into his visual language and you will uncover the idiosyncratic way in which he unravels the world around him in layers, and translates it using a diverse array of materials. Once challenged, these layers coalesce, impressing with their unconventional use of materials, and his language blossoms into poetic reflections.

Despite working in series, the artist continuously embraces the opportunity to experiment with different images and materials, ensuring that his work never ceases to surprise. His perspective on the world is also captured in his weekly blog named “Bits”. For over three years now, the renowned arts and culture magazine “Zuiderlucht” has published “Bits” in its monthly issue.

www.ftn-books.com has now the vander Heijden invitation for his Ramakers exhibition available.

Julie Cockburn (1966) defines her work through its intricate artistry, transforming everyday and discovered objects into masterly creations. By manipulating objects and images found in her surroundings – including sculptures made of ceramic, paintings, photographs, printed paper, and books – Cockburn, who resides and creates in the UK, evokes a sense of novelty and spontaneity.

Cockburn pursued her education at Central St Martins School of Art and Design and Chelsea School of Art in London. Through the fusion of used items and artistic labor, she challenges the ubiquitous and mass-produced with her crafted pieces, imbuing her intellectually and physically worn objects with significance. Skillful techniques, such as childlike embroidered patterns adorning found photos and printed images, invite viewers on a journey of sculpting and creation. Cockburn’s work defies the conventional ways of seeing and interpreting, as evidenced by her playful visual exploration of the materials she employs.

Riette Wanders pursues both elusive and conflicting imagery. She predominantly uses charcoal on paper, her drawings resembling a notated structure imbued with raw, vibrant, and yet delicate lines. Wanders’ vocabulary is diverse and expansive. Black and white photographs, chance discoveries, and especially music serve as sources that are pertinent to Wanders’ oeuvre.

www.ftn-books.com has now the TORCH invitation for her exhibition available.

The piece “Disassembly” (2014) comprises of captivating depictions of plants and flowers, evoking a sense of 19th century taxonomy and botanical drawings, as well as classical still life paintings. However, the significance of these photographs extends far beyond mere scientific illustrations or aesthetic appreciation. Bownik breaks apart his subjects, only to meticulously reconstruct them, utilizing scientific techniques and incorporating unconventional materials like plastic cords and pushpins. The final result is a stunning amalgamation of the beautiful and the enigmatic, highlighting both society’s obsession with conventional beauty standards and the incessant desire to unravel the mysteries of nature. This thought-provoking artwork also begs the question: what is the relationship between photography and mortality?

www.ftn-books.com has the invitations for this DISASSENBLY series available.

James Brown was born in 1951 in the bustling city of Los Angeles, California. His artistic journey began with studying painting and printmaking at Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, after which he pursued higher education at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, graduating in 1974. The years that followed were spent living and creating in the magnificent city of Paris.

In 1978, Brown’s talent was recognized with his first solo exhibition at the esteemed Gemeentemuseum in Arnheim, Netherlands, as well as a solo show at the renowned Christiane and Eric Germain Gallery in Paris. The following year saw Brown relocate to the artistic hub of New York City, where he joined forces with fellow creatives of the budding Neo-Expressionism movement, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Julian Schnabel. His works were showcased at the esteemed Shafrazi Gallery and Leo Castelli Gallery in New York, as well as the Lucio Amelio Gallery in Naples.

Although best known for his abstract paintings, Brown’s artistic pursuits were far from limited. He explored and experimented with various techniques, including ceramics, bronze, textiles, and printmaking. In 1995, he moved to Mexico with his young family, continuing to create and inspire in his new environment.

In the year 2000, Brown and his wife Alexandra established Carpe Diem Press in Oaxaca, collaborating with renowned artists and writers to produce limited-edition artist books and prints. His works have been showcased in numerous American and European museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Oaxaca and the Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City. They are also featured in esteemed private and public collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum, and the Whitney Museum in New York, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Kolumba Museum in Cologne, the Contemporary Art Centre of Malaga in Spain, and the Tamayo Museum in Mexico City. Sadly, Brown passed away in February 2020, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and awe.

www.ftn-books.com has several James Brown publications now available.