Lieke Bezemer
ECHO
A cinematic essay visualizing the invisible processes of trauma - depicted solely by natural elements and references to Japanese mythology, set against the snowy backdrops of Hokkaido, North Japan.
Based on personal experiences and told in a poetic form, ECHO bridges the gap between the inner- and outside world.
- Artist statement; wat is je specialisme, wat maakt jouw werk uniek?
At HKU (Utrecht) better known as ‘the pigeon lady’, and at UNSW (Sydney) as ‘the bin chicken chick’; it is obvious that pretty much my entire life revolves around nature - especially my work as a photographer and filmmaker.
Specializing in the roles of cinematographer and director, I developed a strong focus on storytelling, research and concept development - all of these predominantly focused on non- fictional narratives. My obsession for nature documentaries combined with an artistic background results in the urge to portrait hidden stories, whether or not nature-related, from unexpected angles. This includes experimenting with adding layering in the narrative.
My artistic visions are based on both intuition and thorough research. This translates into a critical attitude while still staying flexible and open-minded. An enormous amount of ambition to obtain the best possible results can sometimes lead to extreme decisions; like traveling to Japan for my graduation film ECHO. It is my desire to tell meaningful stories and I believe these deserve, besides lots of love and attention, such a radical approach.
As a filmmaker with a photography background, my images are characterized by photographic style: every shot, still or moving, should be aesthetically strong enough to be displayed on the wall as fine art. Although photography and film are my main tools, I do not hesitate to use other disciplines. The more suitable the communication method, the stronger the message. To nail this, I’m always looking for the optimum combination of disciplines, or ways to implement new media developments in my work. - Wat zijn je ambities? Wat wil je over vijf jaar bereikt hebben?
I strive to make high quality (nature) films offering a unique perspective, suitable for film festivals. The upcoming five years, I want to spend more time in the field of nature documentary making. Working alongside experienced- and inspiring filmmakers, flying all over the world on assignment for the big networks and production companies, while challenging the traditional documentary format with more complex narratives. Ultimately, spending more time in covered in dirt/sweat/pigeon feces than under fluorescent lights – that’s for damn sure.
- Wat is het belangrijkste dat je hebt geleerd tijdens je studie?
Best said by Henri Matisse: ‘creativity takes courage’.