Biography -

Jan Robert Leegte, born '73. Lives and works in Amsterdam.He studied architecture at the Technical University, Delft in 1992 and continued his studies until graduating in sculpture, installation and computer work at the Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam in 1999. Between '95 and '99 his field of studies would include audiovisual design and fine arts.

Since 1997 he has been exhibiting in the Netherlands and internationally at various locations. Sound performances in Rotterdam, the group-exhibition Kangoeroe II, in Amsterdam, work for various online projects such as http://www.damnet.demon.nl and http://www.lokaal01.nl , online exhibitions such as http://www.dfi.org.uk and http://www.galart.com/wok/301099.htm, and just recently his work is being shown at the "Video Positive 2000" bienale in Liverpool. http://www.fact.co.uk/vp/vp1.htm.

Statement -

This excerpt from a text of my final assessment after four years of art school describes the rigid focal point of my work rather well: " sculptural objects circle around the concept of the essence of a solid kernel that nevertheless is approached in a quasi-casual way. For too much emphatic effort would cause the prey to take flight long before it were even within sight".

The method which I developed to handle this fascination I have for the "unspoken", is to strip down a basic experience until only a few elements remain to keep it intact. Superfluous details are erased which could trigger off further thoughts and associations in the mind of the spectator. The problem I discovered was that with only one work, the spectator is totally free to interpret the work. Because of the minimalist nature of the work, he can place it in any context he wishes. But by placing two or more works together whole angles of interpretation are eliminated leaving the viewer at a point, which he cannot quite fathom. An experience evolves. The person is looking at a blind spot which is defined by a number of works surrounding it. These "generators" have to be totally unique in form, material and solution according to each other in order to define this "blind spot". If they would be similar, they would attract attention to themselves, giving the observer something to interpret and concentrate on. This is exactly what I am trying to obliterate.

Among sculptures, performances, video works, drawings and installations, using electronic and non-electronic materials, I have also discovered the computer as a medium, and to be more specific, Internet. The Internet works are yet another way of generating a viewpoint. Most of the works to be found on http://www.xs4all.nl/~leegte result in a more or less mesmerising experience giving the visitor a minimal setting to observe, trying to force him out of his interpreting shell by inviting him solely to observe. By introducing random generated sound-loops ("trying") sound seems stationary like cheap techno. But only by listening and taking time, the sound starts to twitch and slowly expands until it reaches its full range. By then, the viewer should be sitting silently behind his computer with his eyes and ears transfixed as if he were absorbing the unexplainable fascination he would have sitting beside a waterfall.

Homepage -

http://www.xs4all.nl/~leegte/