What happens when an artist and a philosopher meet in a living/working room? In this special film, Museum Cobra invites you to spend a day with Amstelveen visual artist Jos Houweling. The film, shot in one continuous take, offers an intimate and unfiltered glimpse into his daily practice, thoughts, and conversations with Guikje Roethof, Esther van den Berg, and others. Philosopher Michel de Montaigne acts as an imaginary sparring partner and gives the day a philosophical undercurrent.
About the film
The film was shot in one take in the spring of 2025 in Jos Houweling’s personal workspace. There is no editing: what you see is a direct recording of a day filled with thinking, creating, and meeting people. The script was conceived by participating director Gerard de Kleijn and filmed by cameraman Tom de Wit.
In the morning, the focus is on the ‘usefulness’ of art, while in the afternoon the attention shifts to Houweling’s book production: 39 photo books on a variety of themes, from street scenes to Putin.
Jos Houweling
Jos Houweling (1943) is a Amstelveen visual artist, photographer, and former director of the Sandberg Institute. His work is characterized by irony, wonder, and a keen eye for the absurd in everyday life. He was the initiator of the international platform for One Minutes and has compiled dozens of photo books. His style is influenced by the absurdism of Wim T. Schippers: disruption, alienation, and being thrown off balance are recurring elements.
Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) was a French philosopher and humanist known for his Essais — personal reflections on life, friendship, introspection, and freedom. He lived in a time of religious polarization and violence, but chose autonomy and mildness. His ideas form a philosophical counterpart in the film and invite reflection on artistry in turbulent times.
The tetralogy
This film is part of a tetralogy in which an artist is paired with a philosopher. Each part explores how art and thought relate to an absurd world:
- COMBINEREN & VIS – Jos Houweling & Montaigne (Museum Cobra)
- OPSTAND & HEIMWEE – Pier Pennings & Hannah Arendt (Herinneringscentrum Apeldoornsche Bosch)
- SCHELPEN & RUISHOORNS – Arthur Slenk & Walter Benjamin (Synagoge Museum Kampen)
- TRAMMELANT & TRIANGEL – Ron Jagers & Friedrich Nietzsche (Museum Flehite, Amersfoort)
For more information a-b-s-u-r-d.nl.