The Night as a Creative Domain
My name is Elsbeth van Noppen.
I am a documentary filmmaker, visual artist, and VJ, with a profound fascination for immersive media and the night.
My work is influenced by my experiences as a VJ and my childhood in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). Currently, I live and work in Rotterdam, where I continue to explore the intersection of humanity, nature, and the night through my art.
The night has long been my canvas. Since graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam in 1998, I have specialized in live video performances, merging visuals and sound into immersive experiences. Over the years, I have performed at numerous venues, from museums and festivals to clubs and pop stages.
In the early 2000s, VJ-ing became a burgeoning art form, and I was fortunate to ride this wave, performing in dozens of clubs and music venues across the Netherlands. Since 2000, I have been the resident VJ of the iconic club Now&Wow, where I continue to craft visuals that capture the energy and essence of the night.
Nocturnal Garden
Nocturnal Garden represents the culmination of my artistic journey, combining my love for the night, film, music, and nature. This long-running project invites viewers to explore the hidden nocturnal lives of flowers and plants. Through films, photos, ArtPrints, workshops, and live VJ performances, I delve into the intimate relationship between humans, flora, and the night.
The project is an escapade into a world of sweltering air, exotic fragrances, and exuberant nature, designed to evoke a longing for nocturnal adventures. Nocturnal Garden has been presented at the Flower Art Museum, Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum, IFFR Rotterdam and Hortus Botanicus Leiden.
Themes in My Work
Escapism is a recurring theme in all my creations. Whether through film, visuals, or live performances, I strive to transport audiences into otherworldly realms where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. My work often draws inspiration from the writings of Erasmus Darwin, Ronald Fraser and Linnaeus, as well as visits to botanical gardens, weaving a poetic and philosophical thread into my storytelling.
My artistic practice continues to evolve, embracing new technologies and ideas to push the boundaries of what is possible in the visual and cinematic arts. Through Nocturnal Garden and beyond, I aim to inspire others to see the night and nature in new, profound ways
for information about my other projects see elsbethvannoppen.nl
EXHIBITION/ PERFORMANCES/ INSTALLATIONS
2024 Live performance Nocturnal Garden, music Well ‘oH Boy, Mevrouw Boon, NL
2024 Exhibition & Live performance, music Well ‘oH Boy, SecondRoom, Antwerp, BE
2022 Olfactory exhibition, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, R’dam, NL
2022 Exhibition photos, De Maaltuin, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, R’dam, NL
2022 Exhibition Symbionts, with Daan Samson, NP3 Groningen, NL
2021 Live VJ performance, Nocturnal Garden, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL
2020 Exhibition Nocturnal Garden, Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer, NL
2020 Short film A Midsummernight’s Dream, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, NL
2020 Film Nocturnal Garden op RTM REMIX IFFR, Rotterdam, NL
2019 Live VJ performance, Nocturnal Garden, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL
2019 Artist in Residence, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL