Jaap Scheeren | Flipping the Bird

JAAP SCHEEREN
Flipping the Bird

video, book
2022

“Flipping the Bird” is the narrative visual report, a photo novel actually, of a long and intensive walk in the dunes, in which the artist tries to reconnect with nature.

During this walk Jaap Scheeren slowly falls in love with the landscape, the flora and the fauna and he thinks that this love is mutual. A special, surreal, humorous and confrontational dialogue is created between people, flora and fauna.

At the climax the mutual love turns out to be an illusion and the main character has to choose a path.

The story is set in the dunes in connection with the continuous threat of the sea to the Netherlands – the home country of the author. Human actions and the choices we make now and in the future are of great importance in this regard.

This exhibition is financed by The Mondrian Fund. 

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» GET TO KNOW THE ARTIST «

Jaap Scheeren, photographer, father of two, lives and works in Amsterdam.

In his own works as well as in commissioned work he tries to stay on the narrow path of reliability. He is focussed on the estrangement and pretty environment and its inhabitants. He made at least five publications; The Black Hole (i.c.w. Anouk Kruithof), Oma Toos, a Slovakian fairytale book called 3 Roses, 9 Ravens, 12 Months and together with Hans Gremmen a research into printing named Fake Flowers in Full Colour. His 10 year overview book was suppose to be a website, but turned out as a book titled Jaap Scheeren Cut Shaving. His most recent effort took years because he was too tired to finish anything and perhaps had a midlife crisis he was unaware off. BUT, is a great photonovel titled Flipping The Bird, a tale about a person wanting to reconnect to nature and natures respond to him.

Besides this, he worked on commissions for FOAM magazine, NY Times magazine, Wallpaper, The Guardian, Das Magazin and Hyeres photography and fashion festival among too many others.