©Johan B.G. Vandenblink

2014/03/23

A journey through a field of feelings

How long have you been creating art for?

Quiet long already. Since 1980 but I dare not to call that art... Those were just kiddy drawings... I made my first painting in 1996. Between painting I still create comic strips, cartoons and illustrations for magazines.

What is your background, did you study art or are you self taught?

I am an autodidact but I guess life as itself can be a very good, never-ending study. I am a journalist as well so sometimes I get the change to speak artists and squeeze some (especially for me very interesting) information out of them... And reading about art can be a learning school also.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

Ink and charcoal. And water-colours. I am old school. Coloring on computer or even drawing without pencil and pen seems like playing drums on a keyboard. A kind of fake...

Where did the idea for Qvaestio come from?

Last year I was in a mental dip, a sort of depression, and by searching for an explanation, I was sure that a happening during my youth must be reason why I felt that way, I transformed my thoughts into those of my dog. He was a while really my only and best friend. So perhaps he could give me an explanation. When I was out of that dark situation I work this idea into a story. If possible how would look a memory of a dog? It has to be without words and judgment. That would only be images. And in case of my dog, which had a bad sight, it could be expressive and psychedelic. I know that dogs just see black and white... but I don't believe that...

Tell me about the artwork that runs through Qvaestio – what story does it tell?

It's the life story of my dog as I interpret it. And I guess he was kicked when he was a small puppy. It gives an explanation why he was afraid for strangers. When he arrives at our home he has to deal with a loud Chihuahua. Being also afraid to be left alone my dog must have made a journey through a field of feelings. Sharing his happiness - stones were his best friends - he seemed to judge people for his body language and the way they watch. Indeed, the human factor in a dog which we people like to think to see. Being witness by a suicide attempt, being the savior, a spoil-sport in a love relation, a friend of nature... my dog must have has an exiting life.

What do you hope viewers take away from Qvaestio?

It would be a great thing to read or hear that somebody just has a kind of feeling. Something you get when you listen to a certain song. Or experience by smelling in fall….

Interview/text: Emma Bergmeier

©2009 X-Press Magazine, Perth, Australia

Introduction

著者：ヨハン・B・G・ファンデンブリンクは、1980年に漫画の処女作を出しました。1990年代は作家として、時にはジャーナリストとして、作品を通じて自分を表現してきました。今日では、脚本家として自分の作品の映画化を目指しています。ドイツのテレビ局が関心を示しています。2007年、再び物書きの生活に戻りました。そして完成したのが『QVAESTIO』でした。次の仕事は三部作333-666-999という漫画、およびロシア市場に向けたアルバム（乾杯）です。アメリカ人の作家であり女優であるキアラン・ファンデンブリンク（血縁関係なし）と、ヨハンは「街の音」というシリーズ漫画を描きました。

Johan B.G. Vandenblink a publié son premier cartoon en 1980. Dans les années ’90, il s’exprime comme journaliste et, encore maintenant, comme scénariste avec la possibilité qu’un de ses textes sera porté à l’écran. La télévision allemande est déjà intéressée. En 2007, le crayon est repris en main et le résultat est la création de QVAESTIO. Son prochain œuvre sera le triptyque 333-666-999 et un album pour le marché russe.

Johan B.G. Vandenblink debütiert bereits in 1980. Der Schriftsteller Vandenblink arbeitete fast zwölf Jahre als Journalist (seit 2013 wieder) und, noch immer, als Szenarist und Drehbuchautor. Bald werden deutscher Zuschauern einer seiner Texten ansehen können. Seit 2007 ist er wieder tätig als Zeichner. Das erste Resultat heißt QVAESTIO. Das nächste Werk hat nur neun Zahlen: 333-666-999. Zwischendurch veröffentlichte Vandenblink Hh, Prost, Hiro Morte (Japan) und 30 September (SA).

Johan B. Gertjan Vandenblink maakt in 1980 onder de naam JAY een cartoon voor de Tilburgse huis-aan-huis-krant Tilburg Vrij Uit. Er volgen cartoons voor cartoontentoonstellingen in Frankrijk, Macedonië, Japan, Brazilië, Turkije en Polen en in de jaren negentig brengt Vandenblink een paar lowbudget stripboekjes uit. Oeneman, TYPES, een verhaal van De Gebroeders (‘De Zilveren Harp’, in 1985 gemaakt voor de Willy Vandersteen Prijs), een stripboekje over tennisspeelster PROMPT (in het Duits - pitch voor tekenfilmserie) en een probeersel met de titel Fritz Hofer.

De psychedelische strip QVAESTIO verscheen in 2008 bij 1968 uitgeverij (editeur/Verlag). Klassieke stripverhalen, in vorm van de reeksen TRAEGH & DE SNELLE en PETER & PIM DE SNELLE, zien de komende jaren het daglicht. DE MAN OP DE BANK, een graphic novelle, komt op 12 februari 2013 uit. Tussendoor worden nog boeken in Rusland en Canada uitgebracht (333-666-999 en Na Strovje). Een scenario is omstreeks 2014 op de Duitse televisie te zien.

Johan B.G. Vandenblink published his first cartoon in 1980. As an author, he expresses himself through his work as a journalist in the 1990s, and, to this day, as a scriptwriter with a view to filming one of his texts. German television has already demonstrated interest. In 2007, the drawing pen was sharpened and dipped in the inkpot once again. The result: QVAESTIO. The next work was the triptych 333-666-999, a comic strip, and an album for the Russian market (Nastrovje). Together with the American author and actress Kieren Van Den Blink (no relation), Johan created a series of comic strips entitled ‘Sounds of the City’.

Johan B.G. Vandenblink publicó sus primeros dibujos en 1980. Como autor, se expresa por medio de su trabajo como periodista en la década de los 90 y, hasta el presente, como guionista con la intención de filmar uno de sus textos. La televisión alemana ya ha mostrado su interés. En el año 2007, volvió a afilar la plumilla y a mojarla en tinta. El resultado: QVAESTIO. El siguiente trabajo fue el tríptico 333-666-999, una tira gráfica, y un álbum para el mercado ruso (Nastrovje). Con Kieren Van Den Blink, la autora y actriz estadounidense con la que no tiene ninguna relación familiar, Johan creó una serie de tiras gráficas que se titulaba «Sounds of the City» (Sonidos de la ciudad).

Йохан Б. Г. Вандерблинк опубликовал свой первый комикс в 1980-м году. В 90-е годы он проявил себя в журналистике и в драматургии, последней занимается по сей день, и имеет планы экранизации одного из своих произведений. Телевидение Германии проявляет интерес к его работе. В 2007-ом Йохан Вандерблинк вновь окунул перо в тушь. Так появился QVAESTIO. Следующей работой стал триптих 333-666-999, комикс и альбом для русского рынка («На здоровье»). В соавторстве с американской писательницей и актрисой Кирен Ван Дер Блинк (никакого родства) Йохан создает серию комиксов «Звуки города».

Johan B.G. Vandenblink pubblica la sua prima vignetta nel 1980. Come autore, si esprime attraverso il suo lavoro di giornalista negli anni ’90 e ancora oggi, come sceneggiatore con la visione di filmare uno dei suoi testi. La televisione tedesca ha già mostrato interesse. Nel 2007 intinge la penna da disegno nell’inchiostro ancora una volta. Il risultato: QVAESTIO. Il lavoro successivo è il trittico 333-666-999, un fumetto, e un album per il mercato russo (Nastrovje). Insieme all’autrice e attrice americana Kieren Van Den Blink (nessuna parentela), Johan crea una serie di fumetti intitolata “Suoni della città”.

©Johan B.G. Vandenblink

2014/04/22

Pissed off!

2014/04/19

I am Jesus

2014/04/17

The burn-out man

2014/04/16

...and there was light

2014/04/15

Journalist Van der Pen

2014/04/09

Man with and without hat

2014/04/08

Too many germs

2014/04/07

illustration for unpublished article

2014/03/23

A journey through a field of feelings