PO Box 113 - 1135 ZK Edam - The Netherlands - T +31 (0)299 315083 - F +31 (0)299 315082 - server@paradox.nl
PARADOX creates projects in photography and media related arts. The interaction between social, economic and technological change is central to the thematic projects developed. Alongside these projects, other activities of PARADOX include travelling exhibitions, traditional and interactive publishing and organising workshops and symposiums. PARADOX does not programme in its own exhibition space, but realises projects at different locations, in collaboration with various partners.
Since 1993, when PARADOX started its activities, the non-profit organisation has collaborated with numerous institutions (inter)nationally, such as THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY (Chicago, USA), THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY / NFI (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), THE PHOTOGRAPHERS' GALLERY (London, GB) and LE MOIS DE LA PHOTO (Montreal, Canada). PARADOX' projects are developed both upon request by third parties or at the initiative of the organisation's own staff. Examples of past thematical projects include: (ALTER) EGO DOCUMENTS (an event organised in 1995 for twelve Amsterdam institutions on the autobiographical in photography and new media), AVATAR (1998, Amsterdam, about virtual identities) and DIGITAL TERRITORIES (1996, Rotterdam, about the networked society; main exhibition for DEAF, THE DUTCH ELECTRONIC ARTS FESTIVAL organised by V2). In the spring 0f 2003, PARADOX co-produced EXPERIENCE, the main exhibition of the FOTOGRAFIE BIENNALE ROTTERDAM 2003.
Next to these large thematical projects PARADOX has been actively developing travelling exhibitions, usually dealing with a single artist. Examples of these are the retrospective exhibition of photographer Bertien van Manen 'Photographs 1977-1997', initially made for the INSTITUT NEÄRLANDAIS in Paris, and 'Long Live Me!', a show that focuses on the relationship between the films and photograph of Ed van der Elsken. Thanks to the reputation of the work of the artists involved and the nature of the respective exhibitions, both shows are still touring, alongside more recent productions such as the ironic 'Dutch (and Flemish) Fields' by Hans van der Meer (on amateur soccer) and the intriguing 'Ay Dios' by photographer Diana Blok and author Jan Brokken (on life on Cura?ao, Dutch Antilles).
PARADOX projects have been praised widely for their innovative character. We do, indeed, pay a lot of attention to the design of the projects and to the mix of elements in them. Depending on the nature of the project, a book, an interactive publication or a website is developed to accompany the exhibition, sometimes including other media such as film or 'old-fashioned' radio. The criterion for all elements is that they should enhance the overall project in depth reading of the subject matter, but should also be able to function on their own.
Examples of these more complex touring projects are Bertien van Manen's recent production on the cultural changes in contemporary China, 'East Wind West Wind' (consisting of a book and an exhibition with prints, projections and sound) and '>Play', a major project on youth culture by photographer Carel van Hees. The latter project combined a book (with audio CD), a film, a twenty screen audiovisual installation, radio broadcasts and a website (www.play-record.nl). The project triggered a number of multimedia workshops for youth (creating their own website) and a conference on digital literacy.
In April 2003 PARADOX launched 'Go No Go', a large travelling exhibition on migration in what are termed the 'Schengen countries'. This project is mainly based on the work of Ad van Denderen (photographer, member of VU, winner of the Visa d'Or in 2001) who has been working on this subject for thirteen years. 'Go No Go' consists of a book, a travelling audiovisual exhibition (including film elements by Marjoleine Boonstra) and a website (www.go-no-go.nl).
Paradox's staff shrinks and grows according to the needs of the programmes developed. Usually, the larger projects are the joint effort of Bas Vroege (director) and Rixt Bosma (also responsable for the travelling exhibitions). Jeroen de Vries is a regular contributor as exhibition designer as well as curator.
The board of the organisation consists of: Joop de Jong (chairman), Bas Vroege (treasurer) and Henrik Barends (secretary).
Commissioners are: Just EnschedŽ (chairman), Oscar van Alphen and Willem Woudenberg.
PARADOX developed major projects in the past decade with partners such as the Netherlands Photo Archives (nfa), the National Institute for photography (NFI) and the Foto Biennale Rotterdam (FBR), organisations who merged into the Nederlands Foto Museum (NFM) in 2003. Other important partners were Axis (Amsterdam), the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Rotterdam Festivals and Voetnoot Publishers (Amsterdam/Antwerp).
Most of our exhibition design was done by Jeroen de Vries (Amsterdam), graphic design was realized by Barends and Pijnappel (Antwerp) and Antenna-men (Rotterdam), the latter also being responsible for our recent web projects (including this site).