Elsbeth van Noppen

Documentary Filmmaker

Film is at the core of my artistic practice, where I merge personal narratives and societal themes to craft engaging stories. I made my debut as a documentary director in 2010 with the film Ik voel, ik voel, wat jij niet voelt…, a personal exploration of children who perceive the world in a unique way. This Kids & Docs film premiered at the Cinekid and IDFA festivals, receiving critical acclaim for its heartfelt and original perspective.

This was followed by De Meiden van Chica Radio in 2011, a documentary co-directed with Natasja Morales. The film chronicles the lives of young women producing the radio show Chica Radio, navigating the complexities of their daily lives and aspirations.

In 2019, my film  Vinyljunkies  premiered at IFFR. This hyper-visual documentary delves into the passion and obsession of vinyl collectors, exploring how their pursuits act as an escape from daily reality.  Vinyljunkies  was later broadcast on RTV Rijnmond.

Currently, I am working on my first feature-length documentary,  REMIX , a deep dive into the Rotterdam dance club Now&Wow, which has served as a boundary-pushing space for over two decades. The film examines the club’s role as a haven for freedom and ironic reflection on society.

Visual Artist

As a visual artist, I have initiated and completed over 50 major video projects, showcased at exhibitions, festivals, and museums both nationally and internationally. My work often explores themes of escapism, blending vivid imagery and compelling narratives.

Nocturnal Garden

Nocturnal Garden  is an ongoing project that offers insight into the hidden nocturnal lives of flowers and plants. This multimedia endeavor combines films, photos, ArtPrints, workshops, and live VJ performances. Developed during my residency at Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum in Rotterdam, the project explores the deep intimate relationship between humans, nature, and the night. With  Nocturnal Garden , I create escapades that evoke the sweltering air, exotic fragrances, and exuberant nature of nocturnal adventures. The project has been presented at venues such as the Flower Art Museum, Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum, IFFR Rotterdam and Hortus Botanicus Leiden.

VJ-ing

Since graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, I have worked as a VJ, performing over 400 times at renowned venues including Now&Wow, Nighttown, Mazzo, Off Corso, and Dance Valley. My visuals are cinematic, have an human scale, blending original, self-shot footage with a vibrant and colorful aesthetic. They are narrative-driven to create relatable and compelling imagery. As the resident VJ at Now&Wow since 2000, I have been responsible for creating immersive visual environments for one of the Netherlands’ most iconic clubs.

Educator

For over twenty years, I have worked as a (freelance) educator for institutions such as Willem de Kooning Academy, Digital Playground, SKVR, and Kunstgebouw. I have developed numerous educational programs in immersive experiences, film, media, and media literacy.

Exhibition and Event Concepts

In 2008, I co-organized an exhibition about the Now&Wow club, combining music, visuals, and fashion to create a multisensory experience. From 1999 to 2003, I also co-directed the art and culture festival in Rotterdam’s Witte de Withstraat, managing a team of 20 collaborators.

I continue to work across disciplines, blending technology, art, and storytelling to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences.

EXPOSITIES/ PERFORMANCES/ INSTALLATIES ( selectie)

2024 Live performance Nocturnal Garden, music Well ‘Oh Boy, Mevrouw Boon, NL
2024 Exhibition & Live performance Nocturnal Garden, with Well ‘Oh Boy, SecondRoom, Antwerp, BE
2024 Visual ClubCme, Remasterd, Rotterdam, NL
2023 Visuals, Het Sierraad, Amsterdam, NL
2023 Exhibition Nocturnal Garden for De Maaltuin, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, R’dm, NL
2023 Visuals for Vrij & Verbonden Concert with Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Rotterdam, NL
2022 Visuals for club Now&Wow, R’dam, NL
2022 Vertoning foto’s Nocturnal Garden, De Maaltuin, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, R’dam, NL
2022 Expositie Nocturnal Garden, NP3 Groningen, NL
2021 Live VJ performance, Nocturnal Garden, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL
2021 Visuals voor Animatie Variaties, IFFR, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Rotterdam, NL
2020 Expositie Nocturnal Garden, Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer, NL
2020 Korte film A Midsummernight’s Dream, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, NL
2020 Film Nocturnal Garden, IFFR (RTM REMIX), Rotterdam, NL
2019 Live VJ performance, Nocturnal Garden, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL
2019 Artist in Residence, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum, Rotterdam, NL
2019 Vinyljunkies, documentaire, première IFFR Rotterdam, NL
2019 Visuals Couplet 2.0, kunstproject van Daan Samson en Grolsch, Concordia, Enschede, NL
2018 VJ Performance opening new club location Now&Wow, Rotterdam, NL
2018 Video for Art project van Daan Samson with Bert Kreuk, Second Room, Antwerpen, BE
2017 Caroussel 360 graden film voor Powerboat
2016 VJ performance Now&Wow Fest, Maassilo, Rotterdam NL|
2015 Visuals voor Smog Free party, Daan Roosegaarde, Rotterdam NL
2013 Web serie Jeugdtheater Hofplein in zwaar weer, Still Film, NL
2013 Film Bejegening, voor DZB, Leiden, NL
2012 Visuals, Blown Away, Rotterdam Philharmonisch Orkest,  Fenixloods Rotterdam, NL
2011 Geselecteerd voor IDFA Documentaire workshop, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Documentaire De meiden van Chica Radio
2010 Documentaire Ik voel, ik voel wat jij niet voelt… screening op IDFA en Cinekid.
2010 Nominatie beste film International Filmfestival (TICFF ), TAIWAN
2010 Sex and the City DVD release tour, Diverse clubs door heel Nederland, voor Warner Bros
2010 Geselecteerd voor Kids&Docs documentaire workshop van IDFA, Cinekid en Mediafonds.
2009 Wereldmuziek en Jazz Gala, Concertgebouw De Doelen, Rotterdam, NL
2008 Nieuwe makers, video, voor Sioo Company
2008 Tentoonstelling Now&Wow Exhibitionism, Historisch Museum , Rotterdam, NL
2007 De geschiedenis en bouw van de zeppelin, video voor kunstgebouw
2006 Live performance Fade, Robodock, Amsterdam, NL
2006 Installatie Peepbox, Witte de With festival Rotterdam, NL
2006 Lezing over eigen werk,  ArtEZ Academie, Arnhem, NL
2005 TV commercial Tsunami S.O.S voor  MTV, TMF, the Box and RTL Boulevard
2004 Visuals voor club in London, Rotterdam Promotion.
2004 Video voor beurs stand Grey Goose/Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi NL
2004 Visuals voor After Party TMF Awards, Now &Wow, Rotterdam, NL
2004 Screening Sweet Surrender, Royal Dutch Embassy, New Delhi, INDIA
2004 VJ performance, Fashion Bar Lounge, New Delhi, INDIA
2004 Expositie Sweet Surrender, Crossing Currents, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, INDIA
2004 Performance The Nowies, Museumnacht, Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
2004 Performance Sweet Surrender, Fashion Bar Lounge, New Delhi, India
2004 Visuals cabaret performance met Ted Langenbach, Zaal de Unie, Rotterdam, NL
2004 Visual performance met The Nowies, FOAM, Museumnacht Amsterdam, NL
2004 Visuals Sweet Surrender, World Wide Video Festival, Post CS Amsterdam, NL
2004 VJ installatie bruiloft, Van Nelle factory Rotterdam, NL
2004 Jurylid voor Visual Sensation, Montevideo en Paradiso, Rotterdam, NL
2003 VJ Performance, Lustrum Erasmus University, Rotterdam, NL
2003 Video, Den Haag Sculptuur, Kunstgebouw, Pulgri Studio, Den Haag, NL
2003 Performance Sweet Surrender, World Wide Video Festival, Melkweg Amsterdam, NL
2003 Visuals voor FHM 100 Sexiest Women of the Year event, Amsterdam, NL
2003 Installatie Sweet Surrender, Floriade, Haarlemmermeer, NL
2002 VJ performance Club Karma, Hilton Hotel, Amsterdam, NL
2002 Expositie Roots, Rotterdam Historisch Museum, Rotterdam, NL
2002 VJ performance Keyifland, Now&Wow Rotterdam, NL
2002 Festival IDIOM, Off_Corso, Now&Wow, Waterfront, Rotown, De Unie, Rotterdam, NL
2002 Film, Shades of Meaning, Rotown, Rotterdam, NL|
2002 Just Visuals, audio visual-festival, Now & Wow & Off_Corso, Rotterdam, NL
2002 Remix Marlboro Flashbacks, Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
2002 Live performance festival Lunch Club, Lichtfabriek, Haarlem, NL
2002 On Broken Wings, documentaire
2002 VJ performance Addictive, Thalia, Rotterdam, NL
2002 Installation Sweet Surrender, Pondicherry, India
2001 Expositie Tempt, Commitment, Fonds BKVB, Rotterdam, NL
2001 permanente installatie Tempt, voor Postbank Lounge, Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, NL
2001 Performance Gergiev Festival, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orkest, Now&Wow, Rotterdam, NL
2001 VJ performance State of Bliss, Supperclub, Amsterdam, NL
2001 Performance I’ve Just Met You, RET,  Rotterdam Culturele Hoofdstad 2001, Rotterdam, NL
2001 VJ performance Remix, Dance Valley, Spaarnwoude, NL
2001 Maandelijkse VJ performance Liberated, Now&Wow, Rotterdam, NL
2001 Expositie Tempt, Residence Milders, Rotterdam, NL
2001 VJ symposium R.A.V.E. Off_Corso, Rotterdam, NL
2001 Wekelijkse VJ performance, Now&Wow, Rotterdam, NL|
2000 Performance Starfucker, Grapevine, Rotterdam, NL|
2000 Video installatie op ijsmuur voor Dow Chemicals , Atrium, Den Haag, NL|
2000 Performance Starfucker, MIX Festival, NewYork, USA
2000 Performance Tempt, Mazzo, Amsterdam, NL
2000 Exhibition Starfucker, Montpellier, FR
2000 Performance Starfucker, De Balie, Amsterdam, NL
2000 Performance AI, exploding cinema, International Film Festival Rotterdam, NL
1999 Performance KIKA KIDNAP, De Telegraaf
1999 Event, Big Bother, Nighttown, Rotterdam NL
1999 Festival, 2000 Beats Festival, Witte de With Festival, Rotterdam, NL
1999 Event Com Meat KIKA, Tent. Rotterdam, NL
1999 Installatie Channels, American Adventures festival, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL
1999 Nominatie Maaskant Prijs
1999 Expositie Now or Never, Rotterdam festival, Rotterdam, NL
1998 Expositie Gorkums Museum, Gorkum, NL
1998 Winnaar Zuid-Hollandse Vormgever prijs
1998 Level 2001, Nighttown, Rotterdam, NL
1998 Expositie Mode Fabriek, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, NL
1998 Summer Fashion Night, Nighttown, Rotterdam, NL
1998 Installatie en performance, RSG, Rotterdam NL
1998 Achter de schermen van het IFFR TV,  International Film Festival Rotterdam, NL