About
I started blogging [here] as as a way to keep my head above water while studying at MaHKU, the Graduate School of Visual Art and Design in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 2009 – 2010. On graduation, I decided to go on using this weblog as a notebook.
A strong interest in software from my earlier career in ICT informs the things I do as a visual artist. Which is why I style myself a nerdy artist. For an example of how this works for me, check my MaHKU thesis [here] or some generative mapping [here] and [here] and [here].
Another recurring theme in my work – inherited from an education as a land surveyor – is the Dutch landscape and the way we deal with it. Dutch space is different – see for example the series titled ‘Dutch Mountains’ [here] and ‘River’ [here]. A more comprehensive overview of my work can be found in my portfolio [here]. A list of exhibitions that I participated in is shown left of this text.
At present, I am working on a PhD at Luca School of Arts/KU Leuven. My doctoral research explores the concept of makeability – the idea that the Dutch landscape can be made and remade as a matter of course. This idea is so self-evident in Dutch culture that the thought itself is almost invisible. But it is also deeply rooted in the consciousness of ‘the Dutch’ – a paradigm from which people in the Netherlands see, think and act.
My research asks where ‘makeability’ manifests itself (most) in the Netherlands, what it means, and in what direction it is going. In doing so, I appeal to two related artistic traditions: that of the artist who walks and of the artist who makes maps. I will explore patterns of makeability in several areas in the Netherlands and fix and strengthen those patterns in specific places. You can read about it here and here (Dutch).
While working, this notebook serves as my external memory. It works much like my real brain does. There is lots of stuff there, heaped, stacked, piled and thrown into corners. The online setup enables me to retrieve, access and replay ideas, memories and random thoughts whenever I feel like doing so. What is important to me is to let the unexpected happen – I try to surprise myself every once in a while. So I incorporated some search algorithms in this notebook to play back my ideas in random fashion, like [so]
I do allow other people acces, but I’m not an attention grabber. Nor do I optimize my notebook for traffic or search. It is basically me writing down stuff for me – but you people out there are welcome to it.
Enjoy!
Everdien Breken, Zaltbommel, the Netherlands
Dutch Space is Different»
11/11/24 •
Released from duty9/18/24 •
Polderfluisteraar9/18/24 •
Hooifabriek9/18/24 •
Compact5/27/24 •
Waterwoorden3/13/24 •
Fast and furious2/29/24 •
Limitless2/18/24 •
New area of interest – the NulNAP path2/02/24 •
Grass closeups12/17/23 •
On the road11/26/23 •
One day in Eemland10/28/23 •
Eemland Portrait10/25/23 •
Grass Roots10/18/23 •
Camera Obscura Makeover9/30/23 •
Polder Whisperer9/19/23 •
Eemland projects8/06/23 •
Upscaled COb5/30/23 •
Grasses rock!5/24/23 •
By-products of the hay factory4/13/23 •
Lenses
