RTM presenteert: Woody van Amen

Woody van Amen left Rotterdam for New York aboard a freighter in 1961 with $200 in his pocket. There, he met artists including Andy Warhol and jazz poet Ted Joans. Woody’s personal 8mm films from New York constitute the point of departure for the short documentary Pop Secret by Pascale Korteweg and depict the culture shock that upended Van Amen’s life. Back in Rotterdam, he produced an endless stream of pop art-based work at his studio in Kralingen. Resilience and continual inspiration give Van Amen the energy to create, even aged 82.

After the short documentary, journalist Frank van Dijl (NRC) will sit down with Van Amen to discuss his work and life. To maintain the atmosphere, a playful visual poem by Pascale Korteweg on Van Amen’s 8mm films from New York and Rotterdam wiill be screened, accompanied live by Lukas Simonis (guitar) and Nina Hitz (cello). In collaboration with OPEN Rotterdam and Stadsarchief Rotterdam.

Part of RTM, the Rotterdam selection.