In 2001, after graduating at the Design Academy Eindhoven, Roeland Otten established his creative practice in Rotterdam, working with a conceptual approach in different fields of arts: (graphic) design, video production, curation, communication and music. He curated (or was part of programming team) for many cross disciplinary events and cultural institutions in Rotterdam like Motel Mozaique, TENT., V2, Nai, WORM, Conclub and club BIT. As a creator his work shifted over the years from graphic and interactive design to more spatial projects, often situated in (public) urban environments. In 2014, while graduating at the Master course Studio for Immediate Spaces at the Sandberg Institute, where he researched relations between people, things and spaces to expand his practice with more theoretical and architectonic experiences, Otten's dj career took off unintentionally / internationally. For 6 years he focussed on (dance) music and sounds from around the globe and he began his label Afrobotic Musicology: writing about and (re-)releasing his finds, but most of all playing his music out loud at numerous clubs, festivals and radio stations across Europe and Mexico. Since the pandemic Otten is finding a balance between visual, spatial and sonic activities and combinations.
