In this poetic, atmospheric performance, Jaap Blankespoor transforms into a walking light installation. Together with hundreds of other lamps, he is held captive in the lamp shop (the church). Under the strict supervision of the Owner (the preacher), he is only allowed to shine during the day. When Traders (the outside world) are forbidden from buying him, they try to tempt him into escaping the shop.
At night, Jaap flickers and bends, testing the limits of his lamp. How far can he bend before he breaks? Does he dare to throw off his lampshade? Is there a way out?
De Lampenwinkel is a performance about faith, obedience, and enlightenment, inspired by the Bible Belt; a strictly religious community in the Netherlands where individual light is systematically dimmed. What happens when one lamp refuses to dim his light?
Duration: 25 minutes
Music and performance: Jaap Blankespoor
Director: Robin Block
Light: Hugo Remmen
Costume: Oscar van der Laan
Supported by: Janivo Stichting
Debuted at:
Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2025 at Theater de Richel
(toch nog altijd) je dominee. Installation (2023)
Rising from a collection of secret audio recordings, received letters and written material, I made the auditory installation “(toch nog altijd) je dominee.” I grew up in a heavily reformed church and after years of talking with my pastor I left the community. Through the soundscape I criticise indoctrination, manipulation and abuse of power within religious communities. Within a heavily reformed community there is no room for those who deviate from the biblical norm, critical thinkers or apostate believers.
In the soundscape I ‘ascend’ the pulpit like a preacher to express the undermined, and above all, misunderstood position in which I find myself. I mainly use auditive elements that can be traced back to heartbeat, organ and recordings, which I weave together with electronic sounds. On one side I try to translate the religious com- munity and power difference between pastor and congregation for those who have never been to a (strict) church and on the other side I want to open the eyes of the ones who still go to church.
Duration: 20:45
Seen at:
Graduation Show, ArtEZ Arnhem
Breintrein performance (2024)
Breintrein is an audiovisual performance about the hypothetical future that awaits when the red and blue magnet crash into each other, forcing me inside the train to circle forever. I carry my future on my shoulders, projecting webcam footage of me lying inside the train wagon to the audience, watching the blue and red scenarios unfold.
Duration: 9:40
Seen at:
De Onderbroek, Nijmegen
De kerk en haar etalage Essay (2025)
De kerk en haar etalage is een kortverhaal over de reformatorische kerk en haar gedragingen. Aan de hand van situatieschetsen analyseer ik het Heilig Avondmaal, een toonaangevend ritueel waarin er viermaals per jaar een scheiding in de kerk wordt gecreeerd. Het is de voorbode op wat de gemeenteleden na hun overlijden wacht, althans: dat is wat men gelooft.
Published at:
Rephrase Magazine
Het Vagevuur Spiegelt Soundscape (2023)
Het Vagevuur Spiegelt is een hoorspel over zelf-destructiviteit, verlangen, liefde en het uitgaansleven. Ik maak gebruik van opnames, pianospel en techno en zoek een nieuwe vorm om geschreven flarden tekst te vertalen naar geluid. Het is een verzameling van momentopnamen uit de afgelopen van jaren.
Duration: 14:51
Jaap Blankespoor is an artist and writer who graduated in Graphic Design from ArtEZ Arnhem and followed the minor Music and Technology at HKU. In his work he merges his writings into sound, installations, and (spoken word) performance.
2018-2023: Graphic Design ArtEZ, Arnhem
2024: Minor Music and Technology HKU, Utrecht
2021:
Media Arts Festival Arnhem, Focus Filmtheater
The Quantum Mechanical Approach of Time
2023:
Korzo, Den Haag
Dance Artist ArtEZ Showreel
2024:
Performance, De Onderbroek, Nijmegen
Breintrein
Wasemkap, Willemeen, Arnhem
De Lampenwinkel
2025:
Workshop ArtEZ Graphic Design
Sound Hunting
Arnhemse Uitnacht BYOB Eusebiuskerk
De Lampenwinkel
Rephrase Magazine
De kerk en haar etalage
Vuurland Talent Traject
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
De Lampenwinkel
Supported by Janivo Stichting
Upcoming:
De Verlichting
Supported by Stroomversneller Cultuur Academy