The Essential - A Decade of Video Portraits

‘The Essential’ reveals the ways in which we are unique, but also the similarities we share, despite our differences. Artists Martin and Inge Riebeek have been actively collecting stories from people around the world since 2010. The people they portray tell about what matters most to them, or what is essential in their lives. The resulting body of work thus far contains more than 600 video portraits of individuals from 23 countries. This book is a celebration of this past decade of work by the Riebeeks. It gives an overview of the video portraits and transcripts of the subjects’ personal and revealing monologues, in turn accompanied by additional anecdotes and insights from the artists.

Martin & Inge Riebeek
Publisher The Eriskay Connection
ISBN 9789492051523

256 p, ills colour & bw, 21 x 30 cm, pb, English. € 32,-

Review: Brabant Cultureel

Interviews: Anneke van Wolfswinkel. Interviewees: Hendrik Driessen, Verily Klaassen, Jim van Os.

Images

Video art project The Essential

For video art project The Essential artists Martin and Inge Riebeek collect the stories of people around the world. In these stories people tell about what matters most to them and what is essential in their lives. Hundreds of people from a total of 23 countries have shared their answers in the past decade. Martin and Inge still collect new stories, as they long to give a voice to every type of person in existence. The Essential reveals the ways in which we are unique, but also the similarities we share despite our differences. The stories also show what is happening in the world right now, at times revealing a disturbing, yet important message.

Online exhibitions

Every few months Martin and Inge will display a selection of stories online, as an addition to several exhibitions and screenings. You will be introduced to people from around the world and their honest stories.

The artists

Martin and Inge met in 1996 and have been working together since 2001. They have created several commissioned art works for multinationals like Aegon, Rabobank and AkzoNobel. Besides their commissioned work they have developed their independent art practice. The Essential is an important part of the work they create. The Essential has been displayed in solo exhibitions at Stedelijk Museum ‘s-Hertogenbosch, De Pont museum in Tilburg, Kunsthal KAdE in Amersfoort, Fries Museum in Leeuwarden, Stedelijk Museum Breda, Museum Krona in Uden and Museum van de Geest in Haarlem.

The Essential is supported by Mondriaan Fonds and bkkc impulsgelden.

Martin Riebeek &

Inge Riebeek-van 't Klooster

Oranjeboomstraat 20

4812 EJ Breda

tel: +31 (0)76 5200990

mobile: +31 (0)623614871 / +31 (0)657581013

e-mail: info@the-essential.nl

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