Han Hoogerbrugge (Rotterdam, 1963) studied painting at the Willem de Kooning Academie in Rotterdam in the eighties. In the nineties the Internet played a determining role in his career. In the early days of the web Hoogerbrugge was already busy carrying out the first experiments. The Internet offered Hoogerbrugge a boundless exhibition space. He began with a series of web animations, ‘Modern Living/Neurotica’, which is an autobiographical series of line drawings in the realistic style that Hoogerbrugge still uses today. The Neurotica series reflects on dreams, expectations, daily experiences and human fears.
The limitations of the Internet clearly influenced Hoogerbrugge’s animation style: “The first animations had to be as small as possible. They had to be screened within 20 seconds. Consequently they make a brief and succinct statement, without any intros.” In the meantime Hoogerbrugge’s work takes many forms; prints, comic strips, installations, films, music videos, games, animations, performances and, as of recently, even holograms, and a daily comic on his website Pro Stress.
“His exhibition in TENT Rotterdam, with comics, aquarelles, animations and illustrations, will be one of the highlights of 2012.” (Sandra Smallenburg, NRC, 5January 2012)
“His combination of drawings, animations, film and comics make him a prominent example of a cross-media artist.” (Karolien Knols, Volkskrant, 26January 2012)