Tijdens het 1-jarige programma Visual Storytellers krijgen beeldmakers, met een uniek en divers signatuur de kans om nieuw werk op het gebied van visual storytelling, kunst en digitale cultuur te tonen.
Jenna Vervoorn (1998, Rotterdam) is an illustrator with a modern handwriting. Her project reflects the search for her Indische roots. Like most Indos, she inherited Indische food, hospitality and the Pasar Malam from home. But she wanted to dig deeper and discover her family history.
Khaddouj Barghout (1999, Rotterdam) lives and works in Rotterdam. She currently focuses on painting, drawing and tattoo art. She draws inspiration from the lessons of old masters and incorporates traditional techniques into her enchanting contemporary artworks.
Marieke Luthart (1996, Haarlem) is an illustrator and painter from Amsterdam. Her work is very diverse and includes linocuts, pen drawings and acrylic paintings. She works for various clients and is always looking for a genuine connection.
Michelle Amo-adjei (1991, Amsterdam) is an artist, model and fashion influencer with a passion for storytelling. She recently had exhibitions in Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Dutch Design Week. In the explosion of colorful paint strokes, she draws you into her childlike and cheerful alternative world.
Oudail el Omari (1996, Willemstad, Curaçao) grew up in Lebanon and was 13 years old when he came to the Netherlands. He is a multidisciplinary artist working in the fields of architecture, theater art and film. Although he completed a master's degree in Building Science and Architecture at TU Delft, he has appropriated the medium of photography.
Riangelo Christie (2001, Willemstad, Curaçao) is a disruptive designer and artist. He was born and raised on the island of Curaçao and moved to the Netherlands at the age of 18. In the creative field, he started as a web designer and developer but is now specialized in Art & Tech. Interactive art installations, creative coding, interaction design, and graphic design are all things he loves doing and keeps himself busy with.
jahi quasim reeberg (1998, Rotterdam) is an Afropean visual storyteller, researcher, writer, Afro-futurist, day dreamer and painter. Their practice publishes like a visual diary, combining color, words, reflection and dialogue.
Cenk Gungor (1995, Balıkesir, Turkey) is a Turkish illustrator, animator, and graphic designer. After spending an important part of his youth being one of the 17 million people living in Istanbul, he moved to Amsterdam as a student in 2018. His primary goal was to be able to commit to a creative life without the fear of economic pressures and social judgment, however he found himself in the world of advertising.
Charmaine de Heij (1992, Alphen aan den Rijn) recently obtained her Master Photography and Society at Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK). A photographic approach is at the core of Charmaine’s artistic practice. This approach often takes shape in photographs with portrait elements and still lifes.
Cheraine Baljé (1994, Alkmaar) is a textile artist hailing from the vibrant city of Rotterdam. With a deep-rooted passion for contemporary art and a profound appreciation for traditional techniques, she seamlessly blends the old with the new, resulting in captivating and thought-provoking creations.
Alle makers krijgen individuele coaching en volgen in groepsverband verschillende masterclasses op het gebied van storytelling en positionering binnen design. Ze verkennen op hun eigen manier de kunst van visual storytelling door middel van fotografie, film, installatie, illustratie, animatie, fashion, grafisch ontwerp, VR, digital art of product design. Het verhaal bepaalt de kunstvorm! Het traject wordt afgesloten met een groepsexpositie, vormgegeven onder begeleiding van een curator
Met Visual Storytellers draagt ROSE academy bij aan een inclusief, toegankelijk en voor iedereen herkenbaar verhalenlandschap. ROSE academy zet zich dan ook in voor jonge, biculturele makers. Zo krijgt het culturele veld van ons land een betere representatie. Door onze masterclasses en professionele coaching creëren we ruimte voor artistieke ontwikkeling van onze deelnemers met de nadruk op visual storytelling en cultureel ondernemerschap.
Video & edit by Thiemo van Dam
Let me introduce you to this year’s crop of inspiring Visual Storytellers: Cenk Gungor, Charmaine de Heij, Cheraine Baljé, jahi quasim reeberg, Jenna Vervoorn, Khaddouj Barghout, Michelle Amo, Marieke Luthart, Oudail El Omari And Riangelo Christie. They each showcase different projects that explore, question, and reshape personal and collective narratives, with a focus on identity, belonging, and social reflections.
Celebrating marginalized voices and challenging dominant narratives. Whether it’s reclaiming the narrative of young artists in Europe, promoting Black Joy as a form of resistance and resilience, or providing an alternative perspective on colonial relationships, these reflections aim to shift the focus and challenge existing narratives. Other projects delve into the themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and the search for a place to call home. They explore the complexities of dual identity, the universal experience of seeking connection, and the question of where one truly belongs. May this exhibition inspire conversations that echo beyond these walls, fostering a collective commitment to reshape the narratives that define us and, in doing so, weave a more compassionate and interconnected future.
The exhibition UNHEARD-OF is the result of the VISUAL STORYTELLERS project, a 8 month talent development program by ROSE academy for emerging designers and visual creators that are underrepresented. The program is designed for those who want to develop their own sound and seek support to professionalize within their discipline. Through masterclasses, individual and professional coaching, ROSE academy creates space for artistic development with an emphasis on visual storytelling and stimulating cultural entrepreneurship. Central in this approach is sharing knowledge and to inspire, tailor-made to the creator’s desire. ROSE academy focuses on making the design landscape more inclusive. Giving unheard voices a stage and artistic space by collaborating with established professionals.
Design by Peggy Driessen (Shiftover)
*Dutch Design Week (DDW) is the platform for quality design. DDW is all about the design of the future and the future of design. DDW opens-up, shares and connects all the different perspectives designers have to offer.
ROSE stories is een collectief van verhalenvertellers, producenten en talentontwikkelaars. Wil je een verhaal of idee met ons delen? Neem dan contact met ons op via info@rosestories.nl
