Introduction to working with Rineke Dijkstra.
From Sound Engineering to Videography
Four video stills: The Buzz Club
Liverpool, UK/Mysteryworld, Zaandam, NL 1996-1997
© Rineke Dijkstra
I started working with renowned dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra in November 2008. Dijkstra was initially looking for a sound recordist at the time, to be working on her new video installation, but following my experience in video production I was soon joining the project as video editor and camera operator.
A working relationship developed spanning much further than capturing the sound or image and a friendship emerged, that would have me involved at the deep end of many of her ideas.
For a mixing engineer, who has been occupied with recording and mixing music, this has been a rather surprising change of scene. But I don’t complain, since working with Rineke was a steep learning curve resulting in work that I’ll be forever really proud of, thanks to her allowing me to create alongside her.
Working with an artist such as Rineke, being strongly involved in the filming and editing of two new works, so close and on such highly creative level, is very special.
So how do you write a blog about an art-work that can only really be experienced in real life? The reader will have to make the way to see the installations live, when exhibited in no less than some of the most famous galleries and museums in the world. Introducing Rineke Dijkstra as an artist and her previous work could be a way around this dilemma.
Rineke Dijkstra
Rineke Dijkstra is a portrait photographer, born in 1959, who gained international acclaim for a number of portrait series. Signature works include: ‘Beach Portraits’, ‘New Mothers’, ‘Toreros after the fight’, ‘The Buzz Club’ and ‘The French Foreign Legion: Olivier Silva’.
In these works Dijkstra’s subjects are presented against minimal background and the techniques in lighting and photography developed by her makes the image appear less colourful. Dijkstra further keeps an unemotional distance as photographer, that allow for the subjects to take the center stage, often revealing a feeling of insecurity during transitional periods in their life. “What interests me is that ambivalent zone where you almost lose control,” Dijkstra explained about ‘The Buzz Club’ video.
Kolobrzeg, Poland, July 26, 1992
Julie, Den Haag, Netherlands, February 29, 1994
Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, May 8, 1994
Olivier, Quartier Monclar, Djibouti, July 13, 2003
© Rineke Dijkstra
Rineke Dijkstra and Liverpool
Following the success of her video ‘The Buzz Club’, which was filmed in Liverpool in 1996, she decided that a continuation of this artwork in 2008 and 2009 would reveal how the people of the city and young culture has changed. Liverpool has a reputation for it’s vibrant club culture. A prime spot to cast young people of many peer groups and portrait both.
Rineke picked up on this special atmosphere the City has just as much now as when she first came in 1996. She has an impeccable ability to pick a person out of a crowd, who may never have been filmed before, but will eventually allow insight into his/her distinct character through the eye of the camera and the photographer.
“The Krazyhouse” video installation
A very hard process of scouting began and similar to ‘The Buzz Club’, the models – or better subjects – were asked to perform to music in a purpose build photo studio for the new series. What resulted from this process is a new piece, which seamlessly expands Dijkstra’s line of previous works.
In my opinion, if I may say so, this new artwork is about beauty, the beauty of people, their character, their culture, the music and the movement.
During filming of the first project Rineke Dijkstra presented me with another idea, which would involve working with school classes and portraying the individual characters and the group’s dynamics during a discussion.
“I Can See A Woman Crying” video installation
“I Can See A Woman Crying’ is an exceptional piece of video documentary and portraiture with striking vibrancy, that finds resemblance in Rineke’s portrait stills photography, but takes its notion much further. The viewer gets mesmerized by the sound and vision and can decide to follow the crescendo of a conversation between the children of the class.
Related Links
- Rineke Dijkstra at Marian Goodman Gallery NYC here»
- Read an interview with Rineke here»
- See a collection of signature works (Spanish art blog) here»
- English and German Wikipedia entries
- Google Search for Rineke Dijkstra here»
Recommended books … Additional reading
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