Jan Versweyveld - inbetweens - toneelgroep amsterdam
Press Release | Amsterdam, 16 November 2013
Jan Versweyveld
inbetweens - toneelgroep amsterdam
25 January - 17 March 2013
The Amsterdam cultural institutions Foam and the
Toneelgroep Amsterdam together present the exhibition
'inbetweens' by Jan Versweyveld. Versweyveld has been
scenographer since 2001 and in-house photographer since 2005 of the
Netherlands' largest repertory theatre company, Toneelgroep
Amsterdam. The exhibition at Foam is part of Toneelgroep
Amsterdam's jubilee year celebrating its 25th
anniversary.
For Foam, Versweyveld has selected work that is a major
departure from conventional theatre photography. For the first time
in his career, the spotlight will be on Versweyveld's unique double
role as scenographer and chronicler of Toneelgroep Amsterdam. In
line with his views on scenographic transparency, he shows
unguarded moments as only he can capture them: before and after a
rehearsal, or from a viewpoint that the audience would never be
able to see. In more that 40 never-before-shown images, the
'inbetweens' exhibition unapologetically lays bare the
unpredictability and the secrets of the theatre.
Due to the unique position held by Jan Versweyveld as
scenographer and house photographer, he is involved in creating the
theatre productions from the very beginning. He is perpetually
present at the rehearsals, takes pictures for hours, and is able to
get very close to the actors. Versweyveld thus moves through an
area where other photographers don't usually go. It's not unusual
for him to take pictures from backstage, in the middle of a scene
or even to go beyond it. He is fascinated by the vulnerability of
the actors - how they live and work in the spaces he has designed,
as well as how they prepare, their concentration, the moments when
they step out of their role, their doubt, their exposure of
themselves. It's no longer possible to tell from the photos whether
they have anything to do with the theatre at all - whether you are
looking at a real bedroom or at an underground car park. You can't
tell whether you are witnessing a real marriage crisis or whether
it's 'just' theatre.
Biography
Jan Versweyveld (1958) has been the in-house designer for
Toneelgroep Amsterdam repertory theatre company since 2001. He is
head of scenography (works include Angels in America,
Kruistochten, Het temmen van de Feeks, La
voix humaine, Opening Night, Romeinse
tragedies, de Russen!, Teorema and De Vrek)
and is responsible for the graphic design. Since 2005, Versweyveld
has also provided photographs for the productions. Jan Versweyveld
has also worked as a guest lecturer at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
and co-founded the scenography studies programme in Antwerp. He has
designed scenery and lighting for a variety of theatre
productions.
This exhibition has received support from the Prins Bernhard
Cultuurfonds and the Van Meeuwen Kan Fonds.
Inbetweens by Jan Verweyveld can be seen from 25 January - 17
March 2013 in Foam. Open daily 10 am - 6 pm, Thurs/Fri 10 am - 9
pm. Tickets: € 8,75.
Note to editors: For information and visual
material please contact the communications department, e-mail foam[at]foam.org or phone +31 (0)20
5516500.
Foam is sponsored by the BankGiroLoterij, De Brauw Blackstone
Westbroek, Delta Lloyd and the VandenEnde Foundation.
Foam
Keizersgracht 609
1017 DS Amsterdam
phone: + 31 (0)20 5516500
www.foam.org