Antigoon X Thomas & Jurgen

Antigoon (Eindhoven, NL)

From magic markers to fire-extinguishers—rewriting the rules can be done by many tools, and Antigoon explores them all. Drawing on his training in electrical engineering, computer programming and graphic design, and the unofficial school of graffiti, Antigoon builds machines that combine the binary logic of the computer program with the intentional anomalies of the human programmer. Dancing with the machine, he generates sleek geometric patterns that show signs of constant inconsistenties. Smudges, flares, and drips are embraced, not eradicated. With his work, Antigoon reminds us that there’s room for serendipity in the rigid language of machines.

Thomas & Jurgen (Rotterdam, NL)

Driven by improvisational methods, Thomas & Jurgen apply self-developed tools and rules to explore unchartered visual terrains. Having worked together as a graphic design duo for over a decade, T&J seek novel ways to visually respond to each other in the heat of the moment. Four hands that intuitively work towards one composition, using self-made tools to move ink or paint across glass, perspex or brick surfaces. Building upon their close connection, they finish each other’s visual sentences, but never at the expense of the unexpected turn. The result: prints, murals, sculptures, but also posters, album covers, publications. Presenting not only the final output, but also the conditions in which it was created, T&J create stills out of fleeting moments.

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For DDW 2023, Antigoon and Thomas & Jurgen will create new work: under their own respective names, and as a group. To see what happens when a human-machine collaboration is thrown into a human-human collaboration, and discover what rules, tools and programs can be applied to push both processes into unexpected directions. The fruits of their labour will be presented at Area 51. All three artists are part of UC MASTERS in which talented artists are helped in their development with a grant and guidance. This guidance is coordinated by Jasper van Es. UC MASTERS is a project by EMOVES and supported by Cultuur Eindhoven, Provincie Noord Brabant and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).