I long to play
artist statement
When I try to understand the world around me, it happens through images. I see and interpret reality by attaching my own visual language to it in my mind. Beyond understanding, these images evoke feelings, ranging from emotion, surprise, and wonder to dismay. New images also arise as I shape my vision. Out of this experience my works emerge — works that can even surprise me.
I long to play. Through observing and recording what I see, through deconstruction and reconstruction, making use of chance and time, a personal form of reality comes into being. The images I create during my artistic process reach me through a fascination with what I perceive, but they are also poetic discoveries in visual language, shaped by an intuitive movement within myself.
In works such as Weerlicht, Making Waves and Lens, physical phenomena intertwine with poetic reflection. In my work The Cloud, scientific and artistic research merge: 'When we look at the largest spaces and the smallest elements, we try to find a reflection of ourselves.'
My work moves along the intersection of material, light, space, and time. As a multidisciplinary visual artist and scenographer, I explore how our perception takes shape — how we see, feel, become aware of, and give meaning to the world around us. My installations and spatial interventions invite viewers to look again, to experience space not only by entering it, but also through time, leaving generous room for interpretation.
I cannot work without acknowledging the state of emergency we find ourselves in. As a result, my work is not free from politics. Thoughts that enter the process of making find their way back into my art; they are inescapable. Through my work I seek new ways to give societal issues a face. I offer new perspectives on the themes I investigate, such as the relationship between humans and nature.
My works reveal a renewed sensitivity to our environment, an awareness of how we relate to space, nature, and each other. I not only illuminate, but also reveal what often remains unseen.
now
As an independent visual artist and scenographer I enjoy working on projects that come from my own inspiration and intuition. I also love working together with other artist and creators of many kinds.
2022-now
Vloed
With Anika van de Wijngaard (she calls me the View-Master!) I work together in the 'flowing collective' Vloed, in which art and literature take the lead in the conversation about our relationship with nature and with each other. Vloed works together with visual artists, writers, poets and performing artists, experts, (artistic) researchers and scientists.
2010-2021
Blauwe Uur
With Andrea Dröes and Jurjen Alkema I collaborated in the artist collective Blauwe Uur. Together we pioneered in video mapping projects, interactive light art installations and immersive space transformations. Here I mainly focused on concept development, motion design and video mapping design. Blauwe Uur worked together on projects nationally and internationally, collaborating with musicians, orchestras, venues, festivals, theatre makers and performing artists. We ended activities in Blauwe Uur in 2021.
'Light knows when we are looking' — James Turell, 2013
2006-2009
creative city initiative
In 2006 cultural experts, artists and other creators got together to think about Leiden as a creative city. It was the time that Richard Florida's 'Rise of the Creative Class (2002)' became influential in city design thinking. Four other creatives and I founded Peen en Ui Foundation to shape the thinking into cultural projects. In the first years of its activities, artistic visions and ideas took the lead in the conversation about our relationship with the city as a creative space, that needed to be explored. One of the outcomes was the successful project 'U bevindt zich hier' (You are here) in 2007-08 about creative city maps. In later years Peen en Ui started focussing more on social projects.
2001-2012
cultural websites
Since the foundation of the first (Amsterdam: dds.nl) and second (Leiden: dsl.nl) digital cities in 1994-95 I have been active to bring meaningful content to that new and exciting space called internet. A few years later I started Leiden.nu Foundation. We created a rich cultural and always up-to-date website, bringing information and news about artists, galeries, bookshops, libraries, heritage archives, music venues, concerts, theatrical plays, performances, movies, lectures, workshops, creative courses, museums, exhibitions, openings, as well as historical cultural graphic novels and booklets, personal stories, concert and local restaurant reviews, cooking recipes, gossips and more. One of the websites I designed contained a city map, showing all cultural activities interactively, for today, tomorrow, coming week(s) etc., on their respective locations in the city. It was a unique interactive topographical cultural agenda. Leiden.nu stopped its activities in 2012.
1994-now
graphic design
Using my own 'bicycle for the mind' as a tool (Steve Jobs, 1990), I embarked on a path of discovery. Exploring graphic design taught me that looking at the world longer and with more curiosity can make you more creative in devising ways to change it for the better. With my graphic communication skills, I helped social and cultural organizations better convey their messages. And I learned a great deal from them in return.
Space explorer
Dreamer with eyes open
talks, lectures, teaching
2025 — Studium Generale, Leiden University • artist talk: drinking water, Dorst project
2024 — Studium Generale, Leiden University • artist talk: relationship with the sea as a sailor, traveller and artist, Vloed project
2024 — Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA), Leiden University • lecture about Vloed, Connected by Water project with students and researchers of the University of Potsdam, Universidade da Madeira, Berlin University of the Arts
2024 — Day of Architecture Leiden: artist talk: artistic research, The Cloud
2023 — Children of group 7+8 Schiermonnikoog • workshop light artworks, Sein project
2023 — Academie van Leiden • artist talk: artistic research, intuition, creativity
2022 — Museum De Lakenhal • artist talk: artistic research, intuition + movie presentation, Under the skin project
2022 — Leiden University, Lorentz Center, Beyond science and art • artist talk: the role of intuition / imagery vs. intuition
2022 — Ministry of the Future • talk about our relationship with water + art performance: Vloed (talk with me)
2021–2024 — Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam • guest lecture: art in motion, video and light mapping
2022–now — Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences • guest lecture: immersive environments
2017 — Leeds Arts University • guest lecture: Light and video art in public space
exhibitions
2026 — EST Art Foundation • Vloed, new exhibition
2025 — Broedplaats Hazewind • Dorst
2024 — Museum Paleis Het Loo • Bloom exhibition, Tulip Fever 360º
2024 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Vloed II: Voor de vrede en de frisse lucht, Vloedstap, Dit is geen zee
2023 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Vloed (talk with me), Fetching the Water
2022-2023 — Museum De Lakenhal • Imagine Intuition, Under the Skin
2021 — Open Studios Leiden • Light as a feather, Type Case A
2020 — Gallery MS10 Leiden • Antilight, Hack. The Wall.
2020 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Op touw
2019 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Punt, Overvloed
2010 — Leiden University Special Collections • Four views on Leiden
2009 — Museum De Lakenhal • Kaart als Kunst, De Stijl Kaart
2007-2008 — RAP Architectuurcentrum • U bevindt zich hier, creative maps
With Blauwe Uur:
2020 — Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels • Brabant Remembers, Airborne
2018 — Landgoed Caprera • Planets
2018 — Natuurmonumenten Waterloopbos • Licht aan!, Golfmaker
2017 — Theater aan het Vrijthof • During TEFAF, interactive installation Be a Light
2015 — Framer Framed Amsterdam: Artificial Light Paradise (iLo), interactive installation Double Room
2014 — Luminale Frankfurt (D): Artificial Light Paradise (iLo), interactive installation Double Room
2012 — Luminale Frankfurt (D): Many Many Moons (iLo), interactive installation Be a Light
2011 — Westergasfabriek: Wintergasfabriek, interactive installation Glowb
2011 — Bostheater Amsterdam: Sterk Water
performances & scenography
2024 — Leidse Schouwburg • Beleg, scenography, live video projections
2024 — Pesthuis • PS|theater, scenography, sculpture, video projections
2023 — Pieterskerkhof Leiden • Vloed launch, architectural video mapping
2023 — Hortus Botanicus Leiden • Schemerstad, Voer voor vissen, video performance
2022 — Hortus Botanicus Leiden • Schemerstad, Zeemoed, video performance
2022 — Ministry of the Future • Vloed (talk with me), video performance
2021 — Leeds Art Gallery (GB) • Tulip Fever, architectural video mapping, VJ-ing
2019 — Pieterskerkhof Leiden, Overvloed, architectural video mapping
With Blauwe Uur:
2021 — Oranjewoud • magical forest illumination
2018 — Concertgebouw • Winterlights, architectural video mapping
2017 — Achmeagebouw • start of De Stijl Year, video performance
2018 — Concertgebouw • REMY, theatrical video experience
2016 — TivoliVredenburg • architectural video mapping
2016 — Molen de Valk • Museumnacht, architectural video mapping
2015 — Hooglandse Kerk • 700 jaar, architectural video mapping
2014 – Erasmus University • New Horizon, architectural video mapping
2013 — De Kuyper Schiedam • new bottle, architectural video mapping
2013 — Lowlands • CJP, immersive video experience
2013 — Tijdens TEFAF • Be a Light, interactive architectural video mapping
2012 — Nightlife area Eindhoven • Luxlab, behavioural video experiments
2012 — City center Amersfoort • Spoffin, sculpture in water, video performance
2011 — Zijlpoort Leiden • Schemerstad, sculpture in water, video performance
clients & collaborations
ADE, Amsterdam Light Festival, Anika van de Wijngaard, BNN-VARA, CPNB, Concertgebouw, CJP, De Staat, DGTL Barcelona (ES), EYE, Gemeente Leiden, Grasnapolsky, Heyne Fabrik, Offenbach am Rhein (D), HIIIT, Hooglandse Kerk, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, HVOL, ILFU, Into The Great Wide Open, KRO-NCRV, Leiden&Partners, Leiden Observatory, Light Night Leeds (GB), Lowlands, Luminale Frankfurt (D), Museum De Lakenhal, Museum Paleis Het Loo, Musis Sacrem, Nacht van Ontdekkingen, NRIT, Oerol, Orkest Phion, Philzuid, PWN, Ragazze Quartet, RAP Architectuurcentrum, Remy van Kesteren, Leiden University (Studium Generale, ACPA, Library), PS|theater, Rundāle Palace Museum (LV), Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden, Studio Noralie, Theaterbron, TivoliVredenburg, UAF, Universidade da Madeira (PT), Van Gogh Museum, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn (D) a.o.
'Archiving the old to make room for what's new.'
More (other and older) work will be archived in the future.
Studio Agasi is lid van de Kunstenbond.
Algemene Voorwaarden van de Kunstenbond zijn van toepassing bij levering van diensten.
contact: jos [at] agasi.nl
I long to play
artist statement
When I try to understand the world around me, it happens through images. I see and interpret reality by attaching my own visual language to it in my mind. Beyond understanding, these images evoke feelings, ranging from emotion, surprise, and wonder to dismay. New images also arise as I shape my vision. Out of this experience my works emerge — works that can even surprise me.
I long to play. Through observing and recording what I see, through deconstruction and reconstruction, making use of chance and time, a personal form of reality comes into being. The images I create during my artistic process reach me through a fascination with what I perceive, but they are also poetic discoveries in visual language, shaped by an intuitive movement within myself.
In works such as Weerlicht, Making Waves and Lens, physical phenomena intertwine with poetic reflection. In my work The Cloud, scientific and artistic research merge: 'When we look at the largest spaces and the smallest elements, we try to find a reflection of ourselves.'
My work moves along the intersection of material, light, space, and time. As a multidisciplinary visual artist and scenographer, I explore how our perception takes shape — how we see, feel, become aware of, and give meaning to the world around us. My installations and spatial interventions invite viewers to look again, to experience space not only by entering it, but also through time, leaving generous room for interpretation.
I cannot work without acknowledging the state of emergency we find ourselves in. As a result, my work is not free from politics. Thoughts that enter the process of making find their way back into my art; they are inescapable. Through my work I seek new ways to give societal issues a face. I offer new perspectives on the themes I investigate, such as the relationship between humans and nature.
My works reveal a renewed sensitivity to our environment, an awareness of how we relate to space, nature, and each other. I not only illuminate, but also reveal what often remains unseen.
now
As an independent visual artist and scenographer I enjoy working on projects that come from my own inspiration and intuition. I also love working together with other artist and creators of many kinds.
2022-now
Vloed
With Anika van de Wijngaard (she calls me the View-Master!) I work together in the 'flowing collective' Vloed, in which art and literature take the lead in the conversation about our relationship with nature and with each other. Vloed works together with visual artists, writers, poets and performing artists, experts, (artistic) researchers and scientists.
2010-2021
Blauwe Uur
With Andrea Dröes and Jurjen Alkema I collaborated in the artist collective Blauwe Uur. Together we pioneered in video mapping projects, interactive light art installations and immersive space transformations. Here I mainly focused on concept development, motion design and video mapping design. Blauwe Uur worked together on projects nationally and internationally, collaborating with musicians, orchestras, venues, festivals, theatre makers and performing artists. We ended activities in Blauwe Uur in 2021.
'Light knows when we are looking' — James Turell, 2013
2006-2009
creative city initiative
In 2006 cultural experts, artists and other creators got together to think about Leiden as a creative city. It was the time that Richard Florida's 'Rise of the Creative Class (2002)' became influential in city design thinking. Four other creatives and I founded Peen en Ui Foundation to shape the thinking into cultural projects. In the first years of its activities, artistic visions and ideas took the lead in the conversation about our relationship with the city as a creative space, that needed to be explored. One of the outcomes was the successful project 'U bevindt zich hier' (You are here) in 2007-08 about creative city maps. In later years Peen en Ui started focussing more on social projects.
2001-2012
cultural websites
Since the foundation of the first (Amsterdam: dds.nl) and second (Leiden: dsl.nl) digital cities in 1994-95 I have been active to bring meaningful content to that new and exciting space called internet. A few years later I started Leiden.nu Foundation. We created a rich cultural and always up-to-date website, bringing information and news about artists, galeries, bookshops, libraries, heritage archives, music venues, concerts, theatrical plays, performances, movies, lectures, workshops, creative courses, museums, exhibitions, openings, as well as historical cultural graphic novels and booklets, personal stories, concert and local restaurant reviews, cooking recipes, gossips and more. One of the websites I designed contained a city map, showing all cultural activities interactively, for today, tomorrow, coming week(s) etc., on their respective locations in the city. It was a unique interactive topographical cultural agenda. Leiden.nu stopped its activities in 2012.
1994-now
graphic design
Using my own 'bicycle for the mind' as a tool (Steve Jobs, 1990), I embarked on a path of discovery. Exploring graphic design taught me that looking at the world longer and with more curiosity can make you more creative in devising ways to change it for the better. With my graphic communication skills, I helped social and cultural organizations better convey their messages. And I learned a great deal from them in return.
Space explorer
Dreamer with eyes open
talks, lectures, teaching
2025 — Studium Generale, Leiden University • artist talk: drinking water, Dorst project
2024 — Studium Generale, Leiden University • artist talk: relationship with the sea as a sailor, traveller and artist, Vloed project
2024 — Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA), Leiden University • lecture about Vloed, Connected by Water project with students and researchers of the University of Potsdam, Universidade da Madeira, Berlin University of the Arts
2024 — Day of Architecture Leiden: artist talk: artistic research, The Cloud
2023 — Children of group 7+8 Schiermonnikoog • workshop light artworks, Sein project
2023 — Academie van Leiden • artist talk: artistic research, intuition, creativity
2022 — Museum De Lakenhal • artist talk: artistic research, intuition + movie presentation, Under the skin project
2022 — Leiden University, Lorentz Center, Beyond science and art • artist talk: the role of intuition / imagery vs. intuition
2022 — Ministry of the Future • talk about our relationship with water + art performance: Vloed (talk with me)
2021–2024 — Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam • guest lecture: art in motion, video and light mapping
2022–now — Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences • guest lecture: immersive environments
2017 — Leeds Arts University • guest lecture: Light and video art in public space
exhibitions
2026 — EST Art Foundation • Vloed, new exhibition
2025 — Broedplaats Hazewind • Dorst
2024 — Museum Paleis Het Loo • Bloom exhibition, Tulip Fever 360º
2024 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Vloed II: Voor de vrede en de frisse lucht, Vloedstap, Dit is geen zee
2023 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Vloed (talk with me), Fetching the Water
2022-2023 — Museum De Lakenhal • Imagine Intuition, Under the Skin
2021 — Open Studios Leiden • Light as a feather, Type Case A
2020 — Gallery MS10 Leiden • Antilight, Hack. The Wall.
2020 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Op touw
2019 — Gallery Old School Leiden • Punt, Overvloed
2010 — Leiden University Special Collections • Four views on Leiden
2009 — Museum De Lakenhal • Kaart als Kunst, De Stijl Kaart
2007-2008 — RAP Architectuurcentrum • U bevindt zich hier, creative maps
With Blauwe Uur:
2020 — Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels • Brabant Remembers, Airborne
2018 — Landgoed Caprera • Planets
2018 — Natuurmonumenten Waterloopbos • Licht aan!, Golfmaker
2017 — Theater aan het Vrijthof • During TEFAF, interactive installation Be a Light
2015 — Framer Framed Amsterdam: Artificial Light Paradise (iLo), interactive installation Double Room
2014 — Luminale Frankfurt (D): Artificial Light Paradise (iLo), interactive installation Double Room
2012 — Luminale Frankfurt (D): Many Many Moons (iLo), interactive installation Be a Light
2011 — Westergasfabriek: Wintergasfabriek, interactive installation Glowb
2011 — Bostheater Amsterdam: Sterk Water
performances & scenography
2024 — Leidse Schouwburg • Beleg, scenography, live video projections
2024 — Pesthuis • PS|theater, scenography, sculpture, video projections
2023 — Pieterskerkhof Leiden • Vloed launch, architectural video mapping
2023 — Hortus Botanicus Leiden • Schemerstad, Voer voor vissen, video performance
2022 — Hortus Botanicus Leiden • Schemerstad, Zeemoed, video performance
2022 — Ministry of the Future • Vloed (talk with me), video performance
2021 — Leeds Art Gallery (GB) • Tulip Fever, architectural video mapping, VJ-ing
2019 — Pieterskerkhof Leiden, Overvloed, architectural video mapping
With Blauwe Uur:
2021 — Oranjewoud • magical forest illumination
2018 — Concertgebouw • Winterlights, architectural video mapping
2017 — Achmeagebouw • start of De Stijl Year, video performance
2018 — Concertgebouw • REMY, theatrical video experience
2016 — TivoliVredenburg • architectural video mapping
2016 — Molen de Valk • Museumnacht, architectural video mapping
2015 — Hooglandse Kerk • 700 jaar, architectural video mapping
2014 – Erasmus University • New Horizon, architectural video mapping
2013 — De Kuyper Schiedam • new bottle, architectural video mapping
2013 — Lowlands • CJP, immersive video experience
2013 — Tijdens TEFAF • Be a Light, interactive architectural video mapping
2012 — Nightlife area Eindhoven • Luxlab, behavioural video experiments
2012 — City center Amersfoort • Spoffin, sculpture in water, video performance
2011 — Zijlpoort Leiden • Schemerstad, sculpture in water, video performance
clients & collaborations
ADE, Amsterdam Light Festival, Anika van de Wijngaard, BNN-VARA, CPNB, Concertgebouw, CJP, De Staat, DGTL Barcelona (ES), EYE, Gemeente Leiden, Grasnapolsky, Heyne Fabrik, Offenbach am Rhein (D), HIIIT, Hooglandse Kerk, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, HVOL, ILFU, Into The Great Wide Open, KRO-NCRV, Leiden&Partners, Leiden Observatory, Light Night Leeds (GB), Lowlands, Luminale Frankfurt (D), Museum De Lakenhal, Museum Paleis Het Loo, Musis Sacrem, Nacht van Ontdekkingen, NRIT, Oerol, Orkest Phion, Philzuid, PWN, Ragazze Quartet, RAP Architectuurcentrum, Remy van Kesteren, Leiden University (Studium Generale, ACPA, Library), PS|theater, Rundāle Palace Museum (LV), Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden, Studio Noralie, Theaterbron, TivoliVredenburg, UAF, Universidade da Madeira (PT), Van Gogh Museum, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn (D) a.o.
'Archiving the old to make room for what's new.' More (other and older) work will be archived in the future.
Studio Agasi is lid van de Kunstenbond. Algemene Voorwaarden van de Kunstenbond zijn van toepassing bij levering van diensten.
Contact: jos [at] agasi.nl
