Artist Residency Kulturfactory Italy
Kulturfactory, Domicella, Italy
I’m thrilled to announce that this summer, I will embark on another inspiring artist residency at Kulturfactory in Domicella, Italy, just outside Naples! For two weeks, I will delve into new theatrical territory—this time, I’ll join forces with my sister, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and sound designer.
Together, we will explore the intersection of puppet/object theatre and sound, pushing the boundaries of storytelling through movement, materials, and immersive sonic landscapes. This residency offers us the unique opportunity to experiment, create, and refine ideas in a dedicated artistic environment.
Stay tuned for updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and reflections from our time at Kulturfactory. We can’t wait to share this journey with you!
Standplaats Vlieland Artist Residency
Good news! I’m one of the lucky ones that will live and work on Vlieland for a while! the residency program is initiated by Into The Great Wide open and HI-LO.
Standplaats Vlieland, a residency program, officially kicks off. This initiative, set up by Into The Great Wide Open, Museum Tromp’s Huys, and Hi-Lo, offers artists the chance to immerse themselves in the unique environment of the Wadden Sea region, with Vlieland as an inspiring home base. With support from the Mondriaan Fonds, three selected artists in the first edition of Standplaats Vlieland will work on their artistic projects, which are thematically connected with the dynamics of nature, ecology, and culture of the Wadden Sea region.
A collaboration rooted in art and nature
Standplaats Vlieland was born from a shared passion for art and the Wadden landscape. Into The Great Wide Open, known for the annual festival on Vlieland, has had a strong focus on visual art since 2009. Museum Tromp’s Huys, housed in the historic home of the Norwegian marine painter Betzy Akersloot-Berg (1850–1922), serves as a cultural anchor on the island. Since 2020, Hi-Lo has been committed to the ongoing development and presentation of art in the Wadden Sea region. Together, these organizations create a residency program that gives artists the opportunity to engage deeply with the unique context of Vlieland and its surroundings.
Jikke Lesterhuis – ‘De Cyclus van het Wad’
Jikke Lesterhuis is een Nederlandse kunstenaar die zich richt op poppenspel en animatie, twee kunstvormen waarin transformatie centraal staat. Haar werk ademt leven in het levenloze, waarbij ze alledaagse objecten omtovert tot karakters die denken, voelen en zich verbinden.
Tijdens haar residentie onderzoekt ze de cyclische natuur van het Wad in haar project De Cyclus van het Wad. Geïnspireerd door haar eigen ervaring als zeiler op de Wadden, creëert ze een voorstelling waarin de mens niet slechts een toeschouwer is van de natuur, maar er onlosmakelijk mee verbonden is. Met behulp van stop-motion animatie en poppen brengt ze de verhalen van het Wad tot leven, met oog voor de wisselwerking tussen mens en natuur.
Puppets for S10!
Happy to be part of the new music video of S10 ‘s ‘Have Fun’ directed by Simon Becks.
Check out the full video and BTS clicking the button below.
Ultrashort 2025 - ‘Wad is, is nu’
It all begins with an idea.
I’m thrilled to announce that my proposal for an Ultrashort (2-minute) animation ‘Wad is, is nu’ is selected by the Dutch Filmfund.
Ultrashort is the competition for short animated films that offers filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work — with an ultra-short runtime of up to two minutes — to a wide audience. This marks the sixth year that the Film Fund has collaborated with cinema operator Vue and the film theaters affiliated with the Dutch Film Theater Consultation (NFO). Together with these partners, the range and reach of Dutch animation talent have been expanded and renewed. Starting in the fall of 2025, the five Ultrashort animated films will be shown as pre-show features before major films in Vue cinemas, NFO theaters, and on Picl.
The film is about my favorite place in the Netherlands, the Waddenzee, which is also one of the most important areas for migratory birds on the East Atlantic Flyway. Millions of birds depend on its tidal flats, salt marshes, and sandbanks to rest and feed during their long journeys. What I find magical about this area is its ever-changing landscape. Every six hours, the tides completely transform the scenery.
The Wadden Sea faces serious threats, particularly from rising sea levels and drilling platforms. If the water rises too much, the sandbanks will disappear, and the birds will have nowhere to go. My love for this area together with my concerns inspired me for the story of my film ‘Wad is, is nu’.
The film is about a bird restaurant on a sandbar in the Wadden Sea that thrives to the rhythm of the tides, until a single footstep throws everything out of balance.
I’m beyond excited to make this film together with Valk Productions and 5AM Studios.