Our Pioneer in London: Marloes Haarmans

Marloes Haarmans @marloeshaarmans, Photographer and Art Director is this week’s Pioneer. Marloes went from studying Advertising at Willem de Kooning in Rotterdam, took a 6 month exchange to the School of Visual Arts in New York and soon after set up in London to further study a Masters in Photography at University of Arts London (LCC). We speak with Marloes to learn more about her journey and what inspires her to continue living in the big smoke.

Through our Pioneers series, in collaboration with Nils Adriaans, we catch up with members of the Dutch Creative Community living abroad and ask them to send back personal ‘messages in a bottle’ about life away from the Netherlands.

How did you end up in London? What drove you?

Whilst studying Advertising at Willem de Kooning in Rotterdam, I took a 6 month exchange to the School of Visual Arts in New York. It was my most productive half year ever! I realised that working, or studying, abroad in a buzzing international city made me much more focussed and switched on. Trying to hold onto the productive workflow, it didn’t take long after coming back from NY that I decided to move to London. After having studied so much advertising I came here to study a Masters in Photography at University of Arts London (LCC). This was also a nice excuse and opportunity to build up a photography portfolio. After finishing my Masters, I worked for two years as an Art Director at Kesselskramer, London as I felt like I still had some unfinished business with advertising. Since then, I have been spreading my wings into freelance life across the city where my photography and art direction go’s hand in hand. Currently, I am doing all the content for a lovely fashion brand in London.

@My fireplace in the studio.

What makes you feel at home?

My Dutch bike. My first year in London was quite strange, I didn’t like it. I found it hard to connect with the city and struggled to find my place here. London felt so big, with everything spread out across all corners of the city, I couldn’t really grasp it which made it difficult for me to feel grounded or make the city ‘mine’. I then bought a bike. A Dutch VanMoof. Now I feel like the spider in a London web. I cycle from the furthest point in the East to the furthest point in the West everyday. London feels a lot smaller with no place too far, I know every part of the city and have set ‘wheel’ in every corner. I can even send tourists in the right direction which has made me feel completely at home.

What stands out the most there (professionally)?

It is the mecca of creativity. 1. This city provides infinite amounts of inspiration from the exhibitions, museums, galleries, cinema’s, events etc... There is always so much to see. A nice change in comparison to Holland. These experiences often felt like a social activity that you would do with friends, whereas in London you quite often take yourself out because there is such an array of good shows to see, it becomes part of your work, research and lifestyle. 2. The diversity. London being an international hub, rich in cultures and people; is exactly what creativity needs. Which brings me to my next point; 3. Collaboration. Working with such talented artists/creatives, connecting with people you would have not normally crossed paths with. 4. The variety of creative industries; creative agencies, music, design, photography, magazine’s, fashion, film, theatre, start-ups, and so much more... 5. Possibilities; London has so much to offer, this gives me the ultimate feeling of freedom. You will never run out of options as there is so much to play with.

What is your Random Pic(k) Of The Week?

This week I watched Alejandro Jodorowsky - El Topo for the second time. An acid western. Highly conceptual and full of symbols and mythologies, within his surrealistic worlds. Every visual is a piece of art. It’s good to rewatch, or re-see, the things that remind you of the kind of work you want to produce.

@ Alejandro Jodorowsky, El Topo, 1970, Screenshot

What’s the most radical piece of work over there?

I can’t call something the ‘best’ piece of work, however I will share a very random pic again that I think is British & brilliant. I get really inspired by cinema & shows, although I was a bit late discovering this one, here is a little shout out to the dark comedy-drama show ‘Fleabag'. Fleabag is funny, clever, witty, unique and creative. Written, created and played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The TV show started off screen as a one-woman play. She’s definitely a bit of a hero.

@Phoebe Waller-Bridge in ‘Fleagbag’, Season 2, Episode 6.

What ‘souvenir’ would you bring home?

Dark painful line-crossing humour, unnoticeable sarcasm, self-deprecating yourself constantly, British swear words, my pals and the 3 foxes living in my garden. Beans on toast however, I will leave in the UK.

@Martin Parr, New Brighton, England, 1983–85