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STUDIO JEE

sculptuur , performance , interactief , installatie , Educatie

Jesse van Epenhuijsen (NL) is a conceptual artist working with spatial installations, performance, and text. Often, he finds himself in and around urban sites—situations where traces of human intervention are visible. He investigates what kind of influence they have with a highly sensitive approach. By giving care and attention to the places he inhabits for extended periods of time, he reconfigures architectural elements he finds in public space.

By highlighting specific elements and weaving them into works of art that sketch non-fictional spatial narratives, he, in his own words, tries to show us an invisible network of urban infrastructure, change, and affection.

Cymbal II (decentralized), 2026
Cymbal II (decentralized), 2026 - This work, Cymbal II (decentralized), 2026, is loosely inspired by Paul Baran’s decentralized network schematic (1964) where he introduced the concept of “packet switching”, an imagined robust network where the overall structure of communication could still operate in case a node—or a group of nodes would cease to work. Since the Cold War era, networks and the idea of networks have exponentially changed, reimagined, and some of them even made obsolute. The work investigates how notions of network and ideas around connectivity still purvey in Western Society, and how this shapes, connects, and possibly, divides our physical— and digital space.
KILN. 2025
KILN, 2025 - The videowork reveals a disused limestone kiln in Homolka National Park in Prague, Czech Republic. The work uses site-specific footage, simulated thermal mapping, and animation to tell the kiln's story. In three abstract video chapters, the viewer is taken along an interpretative chronology about the past, the present, and the future of the kiln’s “inner" life or, differently put, how the kiln might have felt throughout these different time periods of use and disuse. The work is presented on a burnt fence, representing the high heat that was needed to procure lime for industrial processes.
Window Wash, 2025
Window Wash, 2025 - When stores get renovated, demolished or go out of business, retail owners tend to not like it when passersby see what is happening inside. Either to build anticipation for what is to come, to conceal the rubble and shame of a failed business, or simply because the business’s liminal states do not comply with standards. Retailers and construction workers have found a cheap, cost-effective method to shield windows in the dairy aisle; If you brush or roll on low fat yoghurt over the glass it creates a thin, foggy film without obstructing too much natural light. It’s a common sight in big cities; white-washed shop facades conceal the public view, especially in cities where there is a lot of change, gentrificatrion or other forms of spatial rearrangements. The window, in a way, represents these distinct changes that are either in progress, have passed or continue to be underway.
Shattered, broken, splinteredm but held together, 2025
Shattered, broken, splintered, but held together, 2025 - Adjectives are generally used to describe nouns, defining their semantic role within sentences. In the work Shattered, broken, splintered, but held together adjectives are carefully positioned on a radiator. In their spine-like disposition, the engravings are forcibly attached with hardware that is originally meant for plumbing and radiator installation. They seem to be stuck, pinned, held down by heavy stainless steel bolts, nuts and clamps that want to trap their descriptive, situated nature.
A B is a B and a B, 2025
A B is a B and a B, 2025 - In this video work, a series of existing and handmade fonts merge together to present the letter B. Constantly ever-changing from one font to another, the shape becomes unrecognizable in moments of transition creating new, undefined letter-like forms. Here, the letter B represents a world of unresolved emotions, doubts and uncertainty; Being always second in-line growing up, being selected last, belonging nowhere, second chances. B is the second letter in the Latin and modern English alphabet. In some cases, it becomes a silent letter, like lamb or comb. The letter has, in some ways, transformative qualities that either fail to be pronounced or become dull, different and stumped. In this regard, B has a fluid character waiting to be defined. Utilizing this duality, this video work introduces an uncertainty in shape and definition while recognizing the emotive capacities of this specific letter.
Drawing as Thinking: A Week-long Artistic Extravaganza at BRUTUS
Drawing as Thinking: A Week-long Artistic Extravaganza at BRUTUS, 2024 - For the BRUTUS Take Over on the weekend of 8 to 11 August 2024, the artist realised a project at BRUTUS Rotterdam. This project consisted of a series of workshops and encounters in which drawing was central. The project used the power of imagination to generate exciting new ideas, works, and methodologies around art and creativity. Each day, a different artist, including Ellie McGuinness, Alejandra Lopez, and Tim Mulder, came together with a group of participants to create a large-scale drawing on a roll of paper, which gradually filled BRUTUS’ project space.The drawings were created in workshops led by these invited artists, who organised and executed the sessions in their own distinctive ways, collaborating closely with the artist. By the end of the week, these drawings were curated into one cohesive, spatial installation. Participating artists: Jesse van Epenhuijsen, Ellie McGuinness, Tim Mulder, Alejandra Lopez
Away From A Solid Support, 2023 - Series of rubber wall works created for the group exhibition "Nothing for Something" in Gallery Ellipsis, Amsterdam "Nothing for something" is an exhibition that brought together a group of artists that, despite living and working in different cities, keep finding one another. Just as their practices are connected through a common interest in questioning urban imperatives, the exhibition showcased a selection of works where shared readings of urban life were highlighted in the space of Gallery Ellipsis, Amsterdam.
A Thousand Mirages, 2023 - Work made for group exhibition "A brief wind of Telekinesis". "A brief wind of telekinesis" was an exhibition by Jesse, Niya, and Emir. The exhibit functioned as a relay race—a process through which three artists took turns passing each other the baton. Within this sporty dynamic, an archive of curiosities, personal history, and poetry appeared in "De Personeelskamer."
"Section E", 2022 - This project was completed in collaboration with artist Fenna Koot. “Section E” explored different ways of processing site-specific information, such as seeing the building we were presenting the work in as an archive and recreating pieces of information on-site through performance and installation. This project was done in collaboration with Fenna Koot. Through looking at the building as an archive, we created a multilayered presentation that used the architecture of the space to research and make visible socio-economic changes in the area and transformations that were not always present in the physical space.
Mobility Box, 2022 - The Mobility Box is a hybrid art piece that combines the function of a resting place while questioning if it’s really designed to sit or rest on. This work of art is loosely inspired by playground objects in the neighborhood of Amsterdam Sloterdijk at De Bouwput, where I organized a group exhibition with three other artists. The show focused on the incoherent cracks and overlaps of the urban infrastructure surrounding De Bouwput, a not-so white cube in Amsterdam Sloterdijk. The Mobility Box also presented a work of Hanna-Lee Daled on the left side of the box.
Ease of Access, 2022 - This fully functional work is designed to lean on when in need of some support. It is inspired by the handrails found in places where access might be impeded. I made three installations and placed them in line next to each other without providing clear directions about where these practical assistants might take you. In order to figure out where you may need some extra support the work can be used directly to hang, lean, push and pull in different directions in the exhibition space. The work was presented at De Bouwput in Amsterdam Sloterdijk.
Possibility Work, 2022 - This work was created out of an incomplete apartment building with scaffolding around the perimeter surrounding exhibition space, hence the name, Possibility Work. The work still is, just like the building, under construction. I loosely recreated patterns you might find in scaffolding sites into wooden construction plates and weaved a printed construction cover throughout the work. The printed construction cover was made in collaboration with textual artist Puck Kroon. During the development of the exhibition, we held a series of meetings where Puck visited us several times to document our process, just like a superintendent monitors the progress of a construction site. The final work combines Puck’s words with a photograph. The words on the cover are partially visible, just as you might not fully understand what a finished building will look like if it’s still under construction.
Who Am I To You, 2021 - This spatial installation was a commissioned job for Stichting KOP in Breda. It was a project initiated by the municipality of Breda to give the 1.5m distance in public space rule a positive twist in public space. With a team of 3 other artists, we created a spatial installation that either engaged with the 1.5m rule or with the space that it was placed in. The installation was exhibited in the Westerpark in Breda. In order to understand the place we were intervening with, we asked the following questions: Is this a place for passing or staying? Does this place have other artworks already and if not, is it necessary to add? This last question introduced doubt for inserting art intotan foreign environment we had never even visited. For this reason, we created a spatial installation that ‘doubted’ itself, questioning its own role in the environment it was placed in. 3 of the 5 flagpoles had a gear inside a box allowing the flags to be moved upwards or downwards. In this way, the neighborhood could interact with the work and create new combinations with the flags. In the end, 2 flags were stolen and 1 was lit on fire.
Precarious Publics, 2020 - This intervention was instigated by a long growing fascination with the ephemeral qualities of certain objects in public space. In my work I pay particular attention to details , especially in places with heavy traffic and interaction. Often these sites have unnoticed potential, but their pace prohibits their potential from (re) appearing. With Precarious Publics, I tried to capture the movement of the ‘bin bricks’, as I would later on call them. These concrete blocks live underneath the public trash bins in Rotterdam, and move through an invisible network of underground infrastructures. They are extremely heavy, made of concrete, and yet disappear into thin air overnight. It felt necessary to document one of these concrete blocks after dark, as it resonated with the way they are operated: out of sight only to appear when no one is looking. I tried to make their fleeting appearance more tangible by adding protective edges to the corners of the block, trying to visualize a contradiction between fleeting and permanent.

Drawing as Thinking: A Week-long Artistic Extravaganza at BRUTUS

Datum:
Locatie: BRUTUS Rotterdam
In samenwerking met: BRUTUS Rotterdam

Immerse yourself in a week of drawing, thinking, walking, and talking as BRUTUS is transformed into a dynamic hub of creativity and collaboration. This series of get-togethers places the act of
drawing at its heart: each day, a new exercise, artist, and group of participants will converge to create monumental drawings that will fill the project space for one long weekend.

Mural and stencil workshop in collaboration with Stichting de Vrolijkheid, Eveline Schram

Datum:
Locatie: COA Leiden
In samenwerking met: Stichting de Vrolijkheid, ECC Leiden, COA leiden, Eveline Schram

In the month of August, together with Eveline Schram, Stichting de Vrolijkheid and the teenagers of COA Leiden, I will organise a series of workshops that will culminate in a gigantic mural next to COA Leiden. The design for the mural will be realised for, and by, the teenagers of COA Leiden.

Co-curator “Section E”, in collaboration with Fenna Koot, PIPexpo Den Haag

Datum:
Locatie: Pip Den Haag
In samenwerking met: PIP Den Haag, PIPexpo, STROOM Den Haag, Fenna Koot

This project was completed in collaboration with artist Fenna Koot. “Section E” explored different ways of processing site-specific information, such as seeing the building we were presenting the work in as an archive and recreating pieces of information on-site through performance and installation. This project was done in collaboration with Fenna Koot.

Organisator “As urgent as it can be” groupshow in Amsterdam

Datum:
Locatie: De Bouwput
In samenwerking met: De Bouwput, AFK020 Amsterdam

I organized a group exhibition with three other artists. The show focused on the incoherent cracks and overlaps of the urban infrastructure surrounding De Bouwput, a not-so white cube in Amsterdam Sloterdijk

https://debouwput.com/exhibitions/urgent-it-can-be
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