..biz ..biz kimiz / ..and we ..who are we
September 16-October 9, 2005

Palais de Hollande
İstiklal Caddesi 393, Beyoglu

Robinson Crusoe Bookshop
İstiklal Caddesi 389, Beyoglu

Toos Nijssen (born 1961) explores the universal, yet increasingly difficult question of identity: ..biz ..biz kimiz / ..and we ..who are we? Over the past 10 years, Toos Nijssen has assembled an archive of video portraits of 450 individuals that range from 5 to 60 minutes long. All of these portraits were taken in a specially designed booth that she set up in different places in India, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. It is a new form of portraiture. These video recordings are not idealized, realistic or expressionistic portraits. They do not accuse social circumstances, nor, do they investigate psychological patterns. They are straight forward portraits of men and women of all races, yet taken in specific places. Ideas on national, racial and ethnic categories are blurred.

During three weeks, Toos Nijssen will be adding to her archive of portraits in İstanbul. You are very welcome to have your portrait taken. If you are interested, please come to the visa entrance of the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Postacilar Street 7, Beyoğlu, at the left of the Consular building. The artist will be there from Monday to Friday from 19 September to 7 October, between 10 am and 4 pm.

..biz ..biz kimiz at the Palais de Hollande in İstanbul is curated by Eva Meyer-Hermann and presented by the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, on the invitation of the Dutch Consulate General in İstanbul.