About — Studio Jessica van Deursen

Art is Life & Life is Art

CONTACT

Works and lives in Rotterdam
studio@jessicavandeursen.com

Be it for human beings like me, be it for other animals, plants, nature-beings, born into domains, ruled, manipulated and supressed by pover human minds. It seems to be an endless and fruitless undertaking: the journey: fighting free from it’s shadows and evolving towards the new world. So endless and hopeless it often seems. But the fibers in our stardust-based bodies still know; in affection and silence it can deeply remember:
‘’In the end it only took trusting, in a mustard seed.’’

Jessica van Deursen (she/they: it’s all is okay) is working on a artsy fartsy movement: one that will change the world. Nothing less. Period. But not sharing too many words here yet. If you want to be part in this to-be historic movement towards the Alter Modernity, then subscribe to the newsletter below, and receive all inside information.

Jessica’s work can be seen as a diary of her own journey as a human being. Saying ‘fuck you’ to the odds of growing up in a troubled family, and breaking free from it’s subsequent conditions. She handles her life as the subject of her investigation on the nature/nurture question. Just curious as to how far she can take it, in this life long undertaking, she calls her endeavor‘‘LevensKunst’’ (Art of Living).

Over the last 10 years or so, Jessica created happenings and performances. In often very testing performances, she explored her physical and mental capabilities.

Through combinations of music, installation, performance and storytelling, she created spa-like retreats, dreamlike worlds and other estranging realms for the visitor to walk right into, to explore their minds and bodies along, and to dive into unexplored alternative realms, together with the artist(s). [Like in The Great Health]

More recently, she started ‘performatively designing’ tools, rituals and methods for alternative ways of living: more sustainable, autonomous and more engaged, minimalist and eco-friendly: for more consious ways of living. Often based on researching forgotten ancient european traditions, knowledge, and crafts. Translating them into contemporary and appealing practically applicable desings. Because that way, her online blog-followers, can join her in the process and think along.
Like creating a hyper ecological and ‘klederdracht’ (Dutch folklore wear’) inspired minimalist set of clothing, which she wore for a full year to test this lifestyle [Re-Fashion]. During covid-times, the started creating her own medicine from herbs that grow no further than one kilometer from her home or temporary residence [Re-Pharmacy].

In 2016 Jessica was rewarded the Young Talent Grand by the Mondriaan Foundation for her work.

Resume

Education
● 2012-2014
Codarts, Rotterdam, Master of Arts,
Community arts 
 
● 2014 
Masterclasses New Music Theatre, Codarts,
Rotterdam  Tutors: Micha Hamel And Arlon Luijten 

● 2008 – 2012
- Willem de Kooning academy,
Rotterdam bachelor of fine-arts  
- Erasmus University, Rotterdam, minor philosophy

Art related work experience
● 2017 – 2022
Art teacher and coordinator at Art-S-Cool, The Hague

● 2020 - present  
Tutor and curator performance art (Dear Shapes in Space project), Willem de Kooning academy, Rotterdam

● 2023 | Coördinator at Frank Taal gallery

● 2023 – present | Board member department art and culture subsidies, municipality of Rotterdam

Solo (selection)
2023, Embassy of Art, Amsterdam, NL 
2022, Glasshouse LifeArtLab, The Great Health,
NY, US 
2020, Witte Rook, The Great Health, Breda, NL 
2019, Concordia, Couplet 2.0., Enschede, NL 
2018, Concordia, Enschede, NL 
2018, WORM, Wer denn sagst dass Beton nicht
brennt?, Rotterdam, NL 
2016, Uitdagen Rotterdam, Krisis, Rotterdam,
2013, Bob Smit gallery, Being human anno 2012,
Rotterdam, NL 

Residencies
● 2021,Glasshouse LifeArtLab, NY, USA 
● 2020, Venice International Performance Art
Week, Palazzo Mora, IT,   Led by
Andrigo/Aliprandi, Vest&Page and
La Pocha Nostra 
● 2019, PiPe, Pictura, Dordrecht, NL  
● 2019, Concordia, Enschede, NL
● 2018, Maria Ziekenhuis & MS clinic, BE
● 2020, Kolkata International Performance Art
Festival, IND
● 2020, Witte Rook, Breda, NL

Curating
● 2019 - present 
Dear Shapes in Space, performance art show in
cooperation with WdKa Rotterdam 

● 2021 
De Aanschouw, Marco de Waal, M.V. Baks,
Lise Sore, Rotterdam, NL 

● 2021 
Performance dramaturgy for the  NPO live television broadcast, Nationale Kinderherdenking, Madurodam,  The Hague, NL 

Press (selection)
2023, KM magazine, interview
2023, Parool, on solo exhibit,
Alter Modern Manifest
2023, Pop Unie, interview regarding release
Alter Moderna album
2022, Parool, about participation on
Big Art 2022 
2022, AvroTros, about Woman in E, De Pont
Museum  2022, Open Art Speak, interview
2022, Fashion United Magazine, Re-Fashion
2021, Publieke Omroep Amsterdam, interview
2021, LAM Museum, Art Entrepreneur
Award 2021
2021, Trendbeheer, 2021
2021, Museum de Lakenhal, If Things Grow
Wrong, Leiden, NL
2021, Gorcums Museum - een overzicht 2013
- 2020, book cover
2020, Jegens & Tevens, performance and fine-
arts work at Frank Taal gallery 10+
2020, PAS (Performance Art Studies),
Johannes Deimling (GER)
2020, Dflbrl8tr gallery, What Remains, Chicago
(USA)
2020, NPO Radio 1, Nieuwsuur BV
2019, Jegens&Tevens, about Pictura
Performance Festival, Dordrecht
2019, Metropolis M, about All for Art at Art
Rotterdam and Couplet 2.0. at Concordia
2019, Museumtijdschrift, about Couplet 2.0. at
Concordia, Enschede
2018, NPO Radio 1, radio interview about
Couplet 2.0 at Concordia, Enschede
2018, AD, about the installation/performance
Broeder-Bruder-Bruedher
2018, Mondriaan Fonds, blog,
Verstarring Doorbreken
2018: Trendbeheer, about All for Art on
Art Rotterdam
2018, De Telegraaf, 'Minder beurzen,
Sterkere presentatie' about All for Art
2018, Mondriaan Fonds, Blog Birgit Donker,
about All for Art, at Art Rotterdam
2018, Het Parool, 8th of February, about
All for Art, at Art Rotterdam
2018, Museumtijdschrift, about All for Art,
at Art Rotterdam
2018, Mondriaan Fonds, (online and printed)
catalogue for Prospects & Concepts

Group (selection)
2023, Gallery Frank Taal, Dammerung,
Rotterdam, NL
2023, Dear Shapes in Space, Neck of the Woods
Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2023, Art Week Rotterdam,
Neck of the Woods Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2023, Cross Pollinations, New York, US
2022, Big Art, Amsterdam, NL 
2022, Stedelijk Museum Breda, NL 
2022, Neck of the Woods Gallery, Rotterdam, NL 
2021, Performance with Lise Sore and Sofie
Hollander, at TAC, Eindhoven, NL 
2021, This Art Fair, Amsterdam, NL  
2021, Riga Performance art Festival, LV  
2020, Gallery Frank Taal, Homo Fragilis,
Rotterdam, NL 
2020, Deformes Trienal, CorporAte, CL  
2020, Kolkata International Performance Art
Festival, Solidarity, Kolkata, IN 
2020, Defibrilator Performance Art Gallery,
Zhou B Art Center, What Remains, The
Artist's Armor, Chicago, US 
2020, Palazzo Mora, International Performance
Art Week, Venice, IT  
2019, Project ID Inbetween Identities,
performance Diealogue,  With o.a.
Peter Baren, Andrigo & Aliprandi
(IT), Fenia Kotsopoulou (UK),
Marcel Sparmann  (DE), Yvette Teeuwen,
Miranda Meijer and Kirsten Heshusius,
The Hague, NL  2019, Root Gallery,
Time to Perform, Rotterdam, NL 
2018, Gorcums Museum,
Broeder - Bruder - Bruedher, Gorcum, NL 
2018, Solstice Gallery, Tabula Rasa,
Brussels, BE 
2018, ART Rotterdam, Prospects & Concepts
show, All for Art, Rotterdam, NL 
2018, Filmtheatre Cinerama,
Der Stille Mensch a.o., Rotterdam 
2017, Hoogtij #54, galerie Arte Sin Limites,
Den Haag, NL 
2017, Arte Concordia, Zoön Politikon, 
Curated by Karin Arink.
With o.a. Robin Kolleman, Paul Cox,
Rolf Engelen, Iris Bouwmeester,
Maurice Meeuwisse and Tanja Smeets,
Rotterdam, NL 
2017, ArtZNSTD, Backfire, The Wander, with a.o.
Lizan Freijsen, Harold Linker and
Robert Roelink, Zaandam, NL 
2016, Roodkapje, Winterwolven festival,
Arminius, The Rite, Rotterdam, NL 

2015 - 2009 (selection) 
- De Parade, Rotterdam, NL 
- Route du Nord, Rotterdam, NL 
- Pulchri studios, Den Haag, NL 
- Frank Taal galerie, Rotterdam, NL 
- Showroom Mama, Rotterdam, NL 
- International Film Festival Rotterdam, NL 
- Goethe instituut Rotterdam,
Museumnacht, with a.o. Mette Sterre and
Inge Aanstoot, Rotterdam, NL 

Grants and awards
● 2023 – Bekker la Bastide,
album Alter Moderna
● 2023 – Duitje crowdfund,
album Alter Moderna
● 2023 – SENA muziekfonds,
project grant, album Alter Moderna
● 2023 – Pictoright, project grant,
Dear Shapes in Space
● 2022 - NJR Ik ben Geweldig, Grant  
● 2022 - Cultuurschakel, Grant 
● 2022 - Pictoright, Grant for Re-Fashion 
● 2022 – Duitje crowdfund, project Re-Fashion
● 2021 - LAM Museum, Art Entrepreneur Award 
● 2021 - Fonds Kwadraat 
● 2021 - Droom & Daad, Grant 
● 2019 - Stichting Stokroos, Grant 
● 2018 - CBK Rotterdam | IBB 
● 2016 – Mondriaan Fonds, Young Talent Award 
● 2012- Vrijvrouwe van Renswoude Scolarship 
● 2012 - Bekker la Bastide Fonds Scolarship

Acquired works
● 2023, painting, Liquid Landscape,
private collector
● 2022, Modern Medicine, photo print,
Filmfabriek 
● 2021, Modern Medicine, photo print,
Frank Taal gallery, private collector 
● 2019, Silent Breach, sculpture,
Maria Ziekenhuis art collection, BE

Presentation and manifestation (selection)
2022, De Pont Museum, performing Woman in E,
for Ragnar Kjartansson’s exhibition
Time Changes Everything, Tilburg, NL 
2022, ECHA2022 conference, The Hague, NL  
2021, Kunstpodium T, Artist talk,
Master-apprentice program, NL 
2021, Teaching Dear Shapes in Space,
fine-art students WdKa at WORM,
Rotterdam, NL   
2021, Creatieve Begaafdheid for Novilo,
Utrecht, NL 
2021, Be-coming Tree, live stream
performance, NL/UK  
2021, Publieke Werken, Rotterdam, NL 
2021, Creatieve Begaafdheid i.c.w.
A Lot of Complexity, Almere Vathorst, NL 
2019, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag,
On the Sublime, Den Haag, NL  
2018, Gorcums Museum, artist talk, Gorcum, NL 
2018, SEA foundation Tilburg  
2016, Artist talk, De Garage, Rotterdam

Video screenings
2023, Blagarden Gallery, Kopenhagen,
Men – On feminist Ideals and actual
Biology, curated by Josef Ka
2023, Sauna Gallery, Stockholm, Men – On
feminist Ideals and actual Biology,
curated by Josef Ka
2022, 18 & 19th of March, Talk to Me, Ukraine 
2019, 9th -11th of oct, Goethe Institute,
(Der Stille Mensch), Porto Alegre, Brazil 
2019, 9th - 11th of oct, University of Granada,
(Der Stille Mensch), UGR Faculty of Fine-
arts, Spain  2019, 14th & 15th
oct, Lavapiés, (Der Stille Mensch),
Madrid, Spain 
2019, 27th & 30th of nov. - 7th & 14th of dec.,
Pictura, Pipe festival, (Der Stille Mensch),
Dordrecht, NL  2019, 28th, 29th
& 30th of nov., University of Vigo,
(Der Stille Mensch), IV International
Performance Art Conference,
Santiago de Compostela, Spain 
2019, 27th, 29th & 30th of nov., CIAPI 2019,
(Der Stille Mensch), Murcia, Spain 
2019, 9th of December, Jesuit College of the
University of Madeira, Portugal 
2018, 25th of September, Filmtheatre Cinerama,
Videoscreening performance video's
(Der Stille Mensch a.o.), Rotterdam, NL 

Commissions
● 2021, WECF Nederland, socials campaign,
CorporAte
● 2019, Couplet 2.0, Kunstruimte Concordia,
Enschede 
● 2018, Gorcums Museum, installation and
performance
● 2018, Maria Ziekenhuis, Overpelt (BE),
durational performance and sculpture
● 2017, Zoön Politikon, Arte Concordia,
Rotterdam, installation and artist book
● 2016, Uitdagen Rotterdam, installation
and performance on Stationsplein Rotterdam
● 2008 & 2022, Wallpainting in auditorium,
Emmauscollege, Rotterdam 