The Intensity of a First Experience: Joost Conijn at TEDxBreda

Joost Conijn re-invents himself in every artwork he makes. His work is the expression of the conversations he has with himself. He moves through life with an independent attitude; inspired, deliberately uninhibited. "Life is about challenges and overcoming fear. My work begins with the irresistible desire to move. It is about single-handedly creating opportunities, realizing plans, putting everything into effect for a moment of perfection."

Conijn sets up a gate in the desert that opens automatically. Takes off in a plane that he built himself. Travels through Easter Europe in a wood-powered car made of wood, all the way to the Chernobyl zone. Films the neighbourhood kids for a year, capturing their life on the fringes of society. Improves his plane and then crashes it. He films a writer, confronting him with detailed questions, because he has to write a book himself. Joost re-connects us to the intensity of every first experience.

Regarding Joost Conijn
After his first long journey -- on a recumbent through India, Joost-Conijn went to the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. He made several video's about his extraordinary travels; C'est une Hek (1997), Airplane (2000), Wood-Car (2002). In 2012, his film about writer A.L. Snijders was aired with Dutch Public Broadcaster NTR in "Het uur van de wolf". In September 2012 he will present his book called 'Piloot van goed en kwaad' during a -- first time -- theatre performance. He exhibited his work, among others, in the Miro Foundation in Barcelona, Lisson Gallery in London, Ibid. Projects in Vilnius, Manifesta in Ljubljana, De Fabriek in Eindhoven.

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