Heya! I’m Nik van der Meulen, I’m a Rotterdam-based artist interested in storytelling media, literature, photography and illustration. I am currently pursuing my BFA at Willem de Kooning Academy.
About
I am a (visual) storyteller, interested in storytelling media, both digital and physical.
I strive to create stories that have somewhat unconventional structures, non-linear narratives, and interactive elements, working with many different media. I am interested in the influence of visual features such as imagery, typeface, layout and multimedia elements on the interpretation of fiction.
I believe the inherent connection between textual content and visual form, the interplay of words and images, can open up new ways of perceiving literature.
I combine text, image and design to create stories that require active participation from the reader to experience the text to its fullest.
Much of my work is autobiographical, my personal journey of self-discovery, development and exploration at the heart of my stories. I combine image, text, sound and design to create layered stories that require the active participation of the reader to fully experience the stories.
I write to find out things I didn’t know about myself. And mostly, to get closer to the reader while creating more distance. My stories are a reflection of my personal journey of self-discovery, development and exploration. I delve into my inner dialogues and struggles.
Educational themes appear frequently in my work. Whether it’s museum education or educational publications, I like to share my passion and enthusiasm for history.
My fictional work delves into the extraordinary, weaving together themes of solitude, reflection, escapism and more. These stories often take an absurdist turn, where childhood adventures at sea and ghostly encounters become vehicles for exploring the boundaries of the fantastic.