---

Who is Marlijn Franken?

A visual artist expressing herself in several disciplines, such as sculpture, fashion and video. www.marlijnfranken.nl

Your film is about?

In my art I search for calmth, a balance to the overwhelming chaos surrounding me.

How did you start with film? And do you have an educational background in art or film?

It started out with the simple need to register my art projects. Because I wasn’t happy with te results of the professional I hired, I decided to learn it myself. This introduced me to a new medium to express myself in.

Could you explain how you work, what themes or concepts you use and what is important to you?

Often my projects start by coincidence. I let it happen. No concepts. An exception is this video November, which was well planned. It was part of a video installation in the Amsterdam Glass House, which is surrounded by nature.

How long do you usually work on one project?

A little over a fulltime week on a video of 2-7 minutes.

Do you carefully plan the production process or do you work more intuitive?

Totally intuitive, experimenting a lot, without scenarios etc. I work alone. I never work with actors. Something (a situation, a place, an event) strikes or attracts me and I start filming. I register the existing and I start manipulating reality in the editing process.

How does the title relate to the work, and how do you find a fitting title?

November is my birthday month. I just love the autumn season with stormy weather. For me it is a logic title for the footage I shot. The exhibit I made it for was in November 2009.

How do you finance your projects (by yourself, sponsors or subsidy)?

As I work alone I work cheap. Mostly I finance my videos myself. November was partly subsidized by the municipality of Amsterdam. Mondriaan Foundation subsidized my journey to Senegal in may 2010 for my participating in art biennal Dak’Art in the OFF programme (with an installation, sculptures and video-art).

How important is sound in film, and if you use sounds, do you create your own or use existing?

Sound is extremely important in my videowork. Until now I mostly used existing music. I started creating sound effects myself, which I like to develop in the future. Also I am looking for cooperation with a music composer / sound maker for future projects.

How would you describe contemporary videoart?

As an art discipline without borders. Because of the increased availability of computers and editing software more and more video artists are emerging.

What possibilities of the web are yet to be explored?

More initiatives like Streaming would be interesting, because of the immense accessibility for the audience.

Did the web changed your view on art, or your career?

The web not really changed my view, but made it broader. It inspired me. The web surely helped me a lot: by putting videos on the web I won the 1st price in a video contest. For my visual art it resulted in offers for exhibitions and in being taken more serious as an artist. The web helps me to come out of my black hole and become visible to a broad audience.

Where would you place your work; cinema or art. And what is the difference between those according to you?

Art. I am a visual artist who also makes shortfilms. In my idea visual artists have another way of looking and, thus, filming. When I think of cinema it has also to do with the length of the film. It tells a story. My work is a series of intuitively made associations of images, colours and sound. I call it visual poetry.

How important is the reaction to your film by the audience?

Very important. I make my work for people, hoping for a reaction, for feedback which I use for developing my skills.

What is your next project about?

Organizing and participating in “YouTube, WeTube in the KunstKerk”, a monthly (each 3rd Thursday, starting 18 November) platform in Amsterdam for video artists. More info onwww.marlijnfranken.nl



Copy the interview with Marlijn Franken