Jan de Bruin ( Delft, 1977) graduated in 2002 from the film department at the Dutch art-school St. Joost in Breda. After his graduation he devoted himself to making personal short documentary videos. In 2003 through 2005 with the support of the Dutch Foundation for Visual Arts he committed himself to the “In America” project. Via this documentary project the artist tried to find a truth behind the (cinematographic) clichés of the USA. These clichés established themselves in his youth via media culture that did not have their origin in Europe. The short video Calling 911 (6:21min.) made in 2004 is one of the results of the above-described project. Shot in Los Angeles in November of 2003 it tells the story of a rescue operation of eventual mythical proportions. An example of the idea that ‘ reality ‘ does not exist but is a constant continuation of narrative. Nowadays de Bruin travels mostly around Europe with camera to film the unseen theatre of reality.

His latest works Waiting for Felipe (7 min.) was shot in September 2005 in Milan, No Fire (7 min.) in June 2006 in Hamburg and Brussels 04-08-07 00:13 am (5 min.) in August 2007 in Brussels.

Via these short films de Bruin creates a psychological mirror on everyday life. Usually he records people in urban situations, engaged in interaction with each other. Hereby exploring the boundaries between film and art, as well as reality and fiction but since these are clichés; making foremost an effort to show us ourselves. This may be even a revolt against post-modernism.

The works are shown at many national and international film festivals as well via more traditional art spaces. Recently de Bruin has also started to make documentary photographs again.