Bert Scholten door G.J. van Rooij Bert Scholten
Bert Scholten (Assen, the Netherlands, 1988) lives and works in Rotterdam. He previously was a resident at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam (2018-2019) and studied at KASK Ghent (2010-2011) and Minerva Groningen (2008-2012). In 2018, his podcast Niks was minder waar was broadcast by the VPRO. In his work, Scholten returns to an age-old tradition of conveying stories in the form of a song. His songs, with titles such as De Paardenmishandelaar, De Gefrustreerde Metropolitaan or Mina Koes, have their origins in local stories or news reports, often from the north of the Netherlands.
Scholten investigates the origins of these stories and traces the evolution of variations that often exist parallel in different regions. He performs these stories live, accompanying himself instrumentally. Just as folk tales keep changing and taking on new forms and meanings, Scholten adapts his song lyrics to the new context in which the performance takes place.
He stayed as an artist-in-residence at Werkplaats Molenwijk in 2021, where he mainly focused on the history of gingerbread and cookie boards. Together with the residents of the Molenwijk quarter, he investigated the meaning of the Dutch tradition of giving cookies to each other. By drawing together, sharing stories, songs and woodcuts, he revisits this heritage and tradition.
Scholten’s residency concluded with the exhibition GEEF (2021-2022), where he showed new work – including new video work – made during his stay at Werkplaats Molenwijk. The video was later shown at TENT in Rotterdam as part of the exhibition Dat speelt hier niet (2022). In addition, an LP with the same title was released in 2023 with recordings made in the Werkplaats, among other locations.
- Mister Motley - We hebben geen gebrek aan gebruiken
- Werkplaats Molenwijk
- Personal website of Bert Scholten
Links
Exhibitions
Exhibition: GEEF
Werkplaats Molenwijk exhibition by Bert Scholten
Agenda
Finissage: GEEF
A festive closing of GEEF by Bert Scholten's at Werkplaats Molenwijk
Werkplaats Molenwijk Balcony Concerts - by Bert Scholte
Mini concerts by Bert Scholten
Magazine
Molenwijk / Action Research / Citizenship / Community & Learning / Social Practice / Workshop /
Molenwijk / Amsterdam Noord / Artist Talk / Community & Learning / Residencies /
Interview: Looking for hidden meanings with Bert Scholten
Amsterdam Noord / Shared Heritage / Innovative heritage / Molenwijk / Oral History / Social Practice /
On the work of Bert Scholten resident at Werkplaats Molenwijk
Molenwijk / Community & Learning / Residencies /