Jessica van Rüschen
Artist

Born in June of 1976 in Germany.
Growing up with two brothers, one older, one younger.

As middle one, I never felt very identified with gender.
I thought I was an Alien, somehow felt that I did not fit in the culture and looked for a possible ‘why’.
Tried many things to fit in, especially by observing others. These observations left me with many questions about our motives and hidden agendas and a strong interest in the complexities of our personalities.
I consider the ability to ‘look at’ yourself and each other a key value in my work.

Played outside a lot. In the country side (it takes a village to raise a child) the sense of freedom was something I am still very grateful for.
Loved books, movies, music, friends and everything that suggested layers of reality.
Loved being anywhere other than home. Although home was good. I just liked the adventure.

Graduated with Abitur and left Germany to study at the University of Music and Dance in Rotterdam. I danced professionally for twenty years which I probably started because I did not know what to do with my body.
Seeing any reflection of myself I used to be surprised that that image would be what others referred to as ‘me’. What I saw in my reflection did not represent at all what I felt inside. It did not suit who I felt I was, as I felt endless, a possibility, and that body felt way to concrete. Using my body for expression through movement bridged that inside-outside discontinuum.

My interest in moving images brought me to build my own company for video productions. As an autodidact I have spend years learning and improving various skills. On this site you will find material in different stages of ‘Know How’.

I started choreographing in 2013.
My movement language could be characterised by a nerdy love for detail and awareness.
My aim in choreography is to capture concrete content in a multilayered abstract physicality that speaks to the associative body and therefore touches that spot of recognition where emotions arise.

I love to observe. My mind wants to understand interaction of matter, complexity of nature, layers of human motives.
At the same time I am aware that my mind is not the one creating. The mind can do many things well but play is not one of them.
Using my observations I’d like to create art that matters to me, enhances consciousness and eventually inspires action.

‘Ik wil de schoonheid van de mens aanschouwen, zijn doen en laten door mij heen laten trekken en kijken wat er in mij achterblijft.’

jvr