‘Je cherche en même temps l’éternel et l’éphémère’

Georges Perec En Route! OULIPO en route! is a presentation by Stephan Keppel and Marc Nagtzaam at Bradwolff Projects. The starting point of the project is the city. The daily routes we make there shape our impression of it. The chosen perspective of the walker or cyclist determines what you see, the ground level, the ground, the dirt, sometimes an object, a kerb or a tile pattern. These impressions play a role in Stephan Keppel’s work. Marc Nagtzaam’s abstract work joins Keppel’s and intensifies the urban experience.

The exhibition is a follow-up to the web project ‘En Route’, a 2020 collaboration of artists Marc Nagtzaam and Stephan Keppel with curator Saskia Monshouwer. For this project, Monshouwer described her daily routes through the city. Nagtzaam contributed with his series ‘Zeichnungen / an Index of Notes / 2019 ongoing’; while Keppel created the ‘Sort Curve Circular Act, Amsterdam 2019-2020’ series. A paper edition of ‘En Route’ will be presented during the exhibition, alongside a new joint publication by Keppel and Nagtzaam.

Stephan Keppel’s work consists of representations of objects and parts of objects, such as plants, stones or a piece of concrete. Small mistakes during the printing process are accepted as part of the image. The use of printing techniques creates layered images on which the traces of the printing process are visible. Marc Nagtzaam makes series of pencil drawings of geometric patterns. The abstraction he uses forms a special, personal visual language that is unmistakably his own. Both Stephan Keppel and Marc Nagtzaam regularly make books. Keppel’s books are designed by Hans Gremmen, Nagtzaam’s books by Roger Willems, Roma Editions.

Nishiko is a photographer who does long-term art projects, such as the ‘Repairing Earthquake Project’ for which she searched for and repaired objects lost to disasters. She will design a soundscape for the occasion, which can be heard during the opening at Bradwolff Projects and the event at Perdu.

Saskia Monshouwer is a curator and critic. She writes and curates exhibitions in close cooperation with the artists. The exhibitions are often preceded by long-term research. Her most recent research project is entitled ‘Wenden’. It serves as inspiration for the development of exhibitions, performances and publications.

The lecture programme “OULIPO En Route!” will take place at Theatre Perdu on Thursday 8 February 2024, from 19:30 to 22:00, with a walk-in from 19:00. Lisa Huissoon will present a performance based on her debut novel ‘All the People I Know’, Guido van de Wiel will talk about his translations of novels ‘La disparition’ (‘t Manco) and ‘Les Revenentes’ (‘The Reborn’) by Georges Perec, and artist and professor emeritus Carel Blotkamp will give a lecture on ‘The End, Artists’ Late and Last Works’.