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#15: AAA Fresh 123: The life of true artists
The AAA Fresh gallery in Rotterdam is home to three artists: Hans Kleinjan (1958), Maikel Kleinjan (1984), and Roderik Faasen (1990). At this location, they produce their manic, colorful, wild artworks. This interview dives deep into their way of working, their backstory, the future, and their wild rock ‘n roll lifestyle. Previous related episodes: Episode 2: Talking (a lot of) shit with real Aussies Episode 10: Maniakism, inside the artist mind of Roderik Faassen About this episode The boys started to paint together in the year 2009 in Rotterdam, Holland. Through the last ten years Hans, Maikel and Roderik developed a new handwriting. Their three art-ego’s became a new one; ‘AAA’. After multiple exhibitions around Europe, they started their own gallery concept, called AAAFRESH123 (AAA Gallery). The majority of the paintings displayed in the gallery are collaborations between the three of them. This gallery, located in Rotterdam, is unique in its kind, as it does not only display art but also gives visitors a taste of the creative process. By walking though a hole in the wall you will enter the atelier. Additionally, they were also involved in various artistic-activities ranging from live-painting at events like ‘North Sea Jazz 2013’, the ‘Grand-Prix Monza 2014’ and the ‘MTV EMA Awards 2016’. As an answer to ‘nihilism’, ‘cynicism’, and the unconsciousness, the artist-trio of AAA developed a new art-movement, popularly known as ‘Maniacism’. It does not only describes the art itself as it is a lifestyle. Mania: An excessively intense enthusiasm, interest and desire for something. The AAA Gallery grew out being the cult-livingroom of Rotterdam / The Netherlands after ten years of ‘live-painting’, exhibitions and shows. As Rotterdam grew up as one of the world cities, AAA grew together with it. The show Contents 00:03:06 – Starting at the end 00:12:20 – A collective ego 00:20:30 – It starts 00:29:18 – Maniakism and the opposite 00:33:20 – 4D guitars collaboration (episode 2) 00:40:13 – Shanghai 00:54:11 – The goal for AAA 01:02:40 – Hard times 01:16:30 – Roderik’s inspiration 01:20:18 – Hans lives only in his brain 01:24:10 – The danger of this lifestyle 01:31:40 – The stories behind the paintings Notes & links AAA Fresh 123 website AAA Fresh 123 virtual tour through the gallery AAA Fresh 123 Facebook AAA Fresh 123 Instagram Roderik Faasen website Roderik Faasen Facebook Roderik Faasen Instagram Maikel Kleinjan Instagram Recording details Recorded on Jan 26, 2018; at the AAA Fresh 123 gallery in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Recorded on the big setup.