Jan ( Delft, 1977) graduated in 2002 from the film department at the Dutch art-school St. Joost in Breda. After his graduation he devoted himself to making personal short documentary videos. In 2003 through 2005 with the support of the Dutch Foundation for Visual Arts he committed himself to the “In America” project. Via this documentary project the artist tried to find a truth behind the (cinematographic) clichés of the USA. These clichés established themselves in his youth via media culture that did not have their origin in Europe. The short video Calling 911 (6:21min.) made in 2004 is one of the results of the above-described project. Shot in Los Angeles in November of 2003 it tells the story of a rescue operation of eventual mythical proportions. An example of the idea that ‘ reality ‘ does not exist but is a constant continuation of narrative. Nowadays de Bruin travels mostly around Europe with camera to film the unseen theatre of reality. To point out the unavoidable narrative.
His latest works Waiting for Felipe (7 min.) was shot in 2005 in Milan, No Fire (7 min.) in 2006 in Hamburg and Brussels 04-08-07 00:13 am (5 min.) in 2007 in Brussels.
The newest film Silent Retreat (4.min) 2008 just premiered at the IDFA festival in Amsterdam.
Via these short films de Bruin creates a psychological mirror on everyday life. Usually he records people in urban situations, engaged in interaction with each other. Hereby exploring the boundaries between film and art, as well as reality and fiction but since these are clichés; making foremost an effort to show us ourselves. This may be even a revolt against post-modernism.
The works are shown at many national and international film festivals as well via more traditional art spaces.
Recently de Bruin has also started to make documentary photographs again @ www.artnews.org/jandebruin.
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#79: Calling 911 (2004)
Medium: fotografie (2/5), Lambda prints
Afmetingen: 55 x 41cm.
Recorded (6min.) in Los Angeles about the hidden network of rescue in the United States. An example of the idea that reality in America does not exist but is a constant continuation of a narrative. Distribution: Montevideo and Filmbank Amsterdam.
Awards: Best soundtrack award Milan Film Festival 2005. Nomination best short film by Dutch Broadcasting Association N.P.S. 2005. Selection best of EMAF 2005.
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#80: Waiting for Felipe (2005)
Medium: fotografie (3/5), Lambda prints
Afmetingen: 55 x 41cm.
One-shot film (7min.) about two Italian police officers waiting for the end of their own inconvenience. Making the unseen theatre of reality visible. Recorded in Milan 2005. Distribution Filmbank, Amsterdam.
Awards: Broadcasting Association NPS New Arrivals September 2006 month price. Selection best of Emaf 2006.
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#81: Brussels 04-08-07 00:13am (2007)
Medium: fotografie (2/5), Lambda prints
Afmetingen: 55 x 41cm.
The title of this piece (4min.) is just a location, a date and a time.
Just like any other true documentary work could have. This work is also a homage to the observer being portrayed. Observation functions as a base for understanding. But ‘to observe’ in it’s act is not ‘to understand’. Distribution Filmbank, Amsterdam.
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Curriculum Vitae:
Jan de Bruin, 1977 born in Delft, Netherlands
Lives and works in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Education:
Art Academy St.Joost in Breda, The Netherlands.
Grants:
2003: Start-Stipendium by Dutch Foundation for the Visual Arts.
2004: Travel-grant by Gerard Hordijk Fund for ‘In America’ project.
2005: Start-Stipendium by Dutch Foundation for the Visual Arts.
2007: Basis-Stipendium by Dutch Foundation for the Visual Atrs.
Solo Exhibitions:
Television.
Calling 911 : 22-05-05 VPRO national Dutch network.
Calling 911 : 22-10-06 TV Een and Canvas national Belgium network.
Calling 911 : 04-02-07 NPS national Dutch network.
No Fire : 05-06-07 Ketel TV local network Rotterdam
Brussels : 22-04-08 Ketel TV local network Rotterdam
Group Exhibitions:
11th Biennial of Moving Images, Geneva, Switserland; 11 – 19 nov. 2005
Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (USA) 12. Okt. 05,
GEM Den Haag “Met Stip” 8-04-06 till 25-06-06 groupexpo of 20 artists supported by the Dutch Art Foundation.
All-rise Gallery, Chicago. group show May 5th thru June 3rd 2006.
CBK Rotterdam “rechts achter” solo show from 07-01-08 till 03-02-08.
CBK Groningen video presentation 29-03-08.
INFO EXPO groupshow 18-04-08 till 20-04-08 Chicago.