In hopes of expanding connections between student and professional artists, the university’s visual arts department has announced that it will host an artist-in-residence program next spring.
Harmen Liemburg, Amsterdam-based graphic designer and artist who was chosen from a pool of applicants, will live in Boston and work at the university for the entire spring 2006 semester. He plans to teach two classes, in addition to other activities with students during his time at the university.
“We think this is a great way to infuse new blood and new energy into the department,” said visual arts chair Kali Nikitas. “We’re very excited to have [Liemburg] come and bring his work and ideas.”
Liemburg, who studied cartography, or mapmaking, in college, has had multiple exhibitions and publications of his work since he began focusing on graphic arts after college. Most recently, he had his first solo exhibition, a series of posters at the International Graphic Arts and Poster Festival of Chaumont, France.
“I’ve always been inspired by everyday graphics you can find in shops and markets. It tickles my imagination and I like to incorporate some of those images into my work,” Liemburg said.
He is also influenced by more traditional graphic arts, like Ukiyo-e, traditional Japanese woodblock prints. He said he has been under its influence ever since he saw an exhibition at a print room in Amsterdam.
“That show was like a revelation to me,” he said. “It felt like finding the roots of my interest in making graphic work that not only serves to deliver a message, but is an object on its own that can exist and be approached as such.”
Since discovering the woodblock prints, Liemburg has also begun incorporating elements of Japanese textile designs and festival arts into his work.
While his primary focus is currently on design, an entirely different discipline of visual arts from more traditional art such as painting and sculpture, Liemburg said he is currently moving toward focusing on “the making of images,” leaving room for a lot of middle ground between the two disciplines.
“One of the most appealing things about having [Liemburg] was that he doesn’t think of himself as just a designer or just an artist,” Nikitas said. “He also doesn’t think of himself as just a visiting artist. He likes the fact that Northeastern is a large university.”
In addition to teaching two classes, one introduction-level and one junior-level; making new work in his university-provided studio space; and exhibiting his work, Liemburg said he would also explore a variety of other interests while in Boston.
“I’m very interested in the history and development of the U.S., the exploration of the west, historical woodtypes, old mail order catalogues and the east coast whaling industry,” he said. “You can imagine I’ll be very happy to spend lots of time digesting new information on those hobbies, and plan to make some very appealing graphic work from all this.”
Liemburg will also go along on a department-sponsored trip to Berlin in March, where he hopes to have discussions with students on yet another fascination – World War II and its aftermath – in addition to the art side of the visit.
Along with the faculty department, students are also thrilled about having a visiting artist on campus with as many interests as Liemburg.
“I think it’s a wonderful for students to be in contact with not only practicing artists, but especially those of other cultures. Art thrives on interactions and experiences,” said Natasha Fallahi, a middler graphic design major who said she hopes to be able to take Liemburg’s class. “From what I’ve read, [Liemburg] seems incredibly knowledgable in both art and life.
