About
Dewi Bekker is an interdisciplinary artist who explores the ambiguity of identity and the power of role-playing within social structures. She does this by moving back and forth between the recognizable, absurd and grotesque by using the human body, sculpture, masks, textile handicrafts, objects and performance.
The fluidity of the presented "I" in this rapidly changing world, and our tendency to constantly refine it, fascinates her. In a 24/7 performance, also known as daily life, everyone plays a carefully curated role. This places us on the playing field of pretenses and associations. What intrigues her most is the desire it expresses; we eagerly express who we would like to be. This makes identity an endless pursuit, a balancing act to maintain this constructed reality. Through imitation, alienation, and an ambiguous use of materials, she explores these complex mechanisms.
She is also co-founder of the collective and the eponymous art initiative Das Leben am Haverkamp where they create a public program giving a platform to other artists. The collective Das Leben am Haverkamp is formed by four artists – Anouk van Klaveren, Christa van der Meer, Dewi Bekker and Gino Anthonisse.
CV
Dewi Bekker - interdisciplinary artist
b. 1990, Lives and works in The Hague (NL)
Co-founder of the collective and art initiative Das Leben am Haverkamp (DLAH)
education/professional experience
2009-2013 Bachelor of Design, Fashion and Textile, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2008-2009 Preparatory course, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
secondary activities
2020-current executive board and curatorial work, art Initiative Das Leben am Haverkamp, The Hague (NL)
2021-current Advisor Project Subsidies - Visual Arts, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK), Amsterdam (NL)
2022-current Advisory Committee PRO Subsides, Stroom Den Haag (NL)
2025-current Advisory committee, Talent Development, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, Rotterdam (NL)
2017-current Guest teaching at a.o. Royal Academy of Art, Hogeschool der Kunsten Utrecht, Artez Zwolle and Arnhem, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Breitner Academie
2017- 2024 Lecturer, pattern making and tailoring at United Pop, Amsterdam (NL)
Selected exhibitions/shows
2025
Raam art Space, Amsterdam (NL), Post Pullution curated by Willem de Haan, work by DLAH
Museum Helmond, Helmond (NL) - Carnavals atelier by Yasser Balemans, carnavalsalchemist costume developed i.c.w. Anouk van Klaveren
CBK Zeeland, Middelburg (NL), De man zonder broek en de vrouw die van steen was, solo by collective DLAH (individual en collective work)
De Leeuwenhoek, Rotterdam (NL), Pillows in De Leeuwenhoek by DLAH, a collaborative work with residents of care home De Leeuwenhoek, on invitation by Extra Extra magazine.
2024
Bermuda Open, Den Haag (NL), open studio at Das Leben am Haverkamp, Petunia
Zuid. Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam (NL), Bericht van de Duif - project by Gijsje Heemskerk and Shani Leseman, costumes developed i.c.w. Anouk van Klaveren
IFFR, Rotterdam (NL) premiere of Lose Voice Toolkit a film by Adele Dipasquale, costumes developed i.c.w. Anouk van Klaveren for the film
2023
Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (NL), Apprentice Master #2: Het Bloemetjesgordijn, Petunia
Museum JAN, Amstelveen (NL), Ted Noten & co. - Over Waarde, Quirky Cruise by DLAH
Z33, Hasselt (BE), Fitting In, A Monument of Folly
2022
PIP, The Hague (NL), PIP Expo: Do Geese See God? performative night in collaboration with Eilit Marom and Anouk van Klaveren
Design Museum Den Bosch (NL), group exhibition Sneakers Under Construction, 1:1 – an encounter between real and fake by DLAH
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen (NL), group exhibition Roaring Twenties, Quirky Cruise by DLAH
2021
Das Leben am Haverkamp, The Hague (NL), Vier attracties, één kermis
Zuiderzeemuseum, Enkhuizen (NL), Must See, The Residents by DLAH
NEST, The Hague (NL), Out and About
Grafische Werkplaats Den Haag (NL), Analog, The Residue is Pitifully Thin
2020
Quartair, Den Haag (NL) - Artist support fair, Geen bloem zonder wortel
Eight Cubic Meters, Amsterdam (NL) JOIN Collective Clothes photo exhibition
Billytown The Kitchen, The Hague (NL), Glory Collision curated by Atelier Oh Nee
Le Signe - Centre National du Graphisme, Chaumont (FR) De Toutes Façons…, Quirky Cruise by DLAH
2019
Bureau Europa, Maastricht (NL), New Fashion Narratives - curated by Fashionclash Festival, Yellow hands yellow ears
Jan van Eyck, Maastricht (NL), Fashion after Flood - Taskforce Fashion
Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg (NL) Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp
Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg (NL), performance Joe for the occasion of the finissage of Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp
Page Not Found, The Hague (NL), A Fictional Turn; Part 3, audio installation related to Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp
Centraal Museum Utrecht (NL), Quirky Cruise as part of the permanent collection– Tromp L’oeil
2018
OBA, Amsterdam (NL), Modemuze@OBA: Innovation, Quirky Cruise by DLAH
Grey Space in The Middle, The Hague (NL), WYSIWYG invites Das Leben am Haverkamp, performance by DLAH
ARTIS, Amsterdam (NL), art=ARTIS, A residence that might remind you of that unique hotel in Magdeburg or that colourful gym where you used to train for tampon hockey, i.c.w. Anouk van Klaveren
Salone del Mobile, Milan (IT), HOW&WOW - cooperazione! by Crafts Council NL, Quirky Cruise by DLAH
Heden, Den Haag (NL), Quirky Cruise by DLAH
2017
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven (NL), Dutch Design Awards exhibition (as part of Das Leben am Haverkamp)
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, (NL), preview Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp
Centraal Museum, Utrecht (NL), Uit de Mode, Quirky Cruise by DLAH,
Nest, The Hague (NL), Pitch Black Photobooth by Eddie The Eagle Museum i.c.w. Das Leben am Haverkamp
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague(NL), Fashion in Style, - Art direction of the exhibition with DLAH and participating with individual work
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Amsterdam (NL), Quirky Cruise, opening show by DLAH (NL)
Punch Punch and About Asia at Future Center, Chengdu (CHN), Boom City by Fashionclash,
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Amsterdam (NL), Future Generation, A flag, stripes and a guy in green overalls as part of Bravado by DLAH
De School, Amsterdam (NL), Tijdgenoten #2 curated by Glamcult, an installation by DLAH
2016
Avondwinkel de Buren, Amsterdam (NL) Avondwinkel de Buren op 102, launch of a publication by Das Leben am Haverkamp and Marsdiep
XXI Triennale di Milano International Exhibition, Milan (IT) , Sempering, exhibtion of PLAAT in collaboration with qoowl
Atelier Neerlandais, Paris (FR), Paris Men’s Fashionweek, The Show-Off Show (by DLAH), presentation of The sun would not catch them on the road
2015
SPRMRKT Amsterdam (NL), GLAMCULT + SPRMRKT, Gefelicifashion- a performance by DLAH
Mercedez Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam, Amsterdam (NL), Future Generation, Gefelicifashion by DLAH
2014
Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag (NL), performance and exhibition in de Tuinzaal with DLAH
OBJECT Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NL) - Exhibition
2013
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven (NL), Modebelofte 2013 – Future Fashions, graduation collection
Amsterdam Fashion Week (NL), Lichting 2013, I would like to drink beer high among the Aesir.
The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague(NL), graduation exhibition.
Acquired works
2019 Collection Zeeuws Museum Middelburg NL, acquired two works, of the project “Ik zie…ribbeltjes…hele spannende ribbeltjes”
2017 Collection Centraal Museum Utrecht (NL), acquired three works of Quirky Cruise by DLAH
Released publications
2021 Vier attracties, één kermis, Das Leben am Haverkamp, accompanies the solo exhibition series
2018 Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp, Exhibition catalogue, edited by Das Leben am Haverkamp, published by Zeeuws Museum, graphic design by Studio Lennarts & de Bruijn.
2016 Spacetimewarp, A calendar questioning the concept of time, created by DLAH in collaboration with Marsdiep.
Awards and Grants
2022 Creative Industry Fund NL, Experiment subsidy
2020 We Are Public NL, In Art We Trust Fund awarded DLAH
2018 Stroom Den HaagNL, PRO-Premium - established artist grant, The Hague
2018 Creative Industries Fund NL, research funding awarded to DLAH
2018 Stroom Den Haag NL, PRO-Deo awarded to DLAH, mentorship by Bas Hendrikx
2017 Dutch Design Award – FashionNL,Winner (DLAH), Eindhoven
2017 Dutch Design Award – Young TalentNL,Nominee (DLAH), Eindhoven
2017 VolkskrantNL, Het talent voor 2018, fashion and design, 2ndprice (DLAH)
2014 Stroom Den HaagNL, PRO-Invest, young artist grant, The Hague
2013 Royal Academy of Art NL,Academy Award,Nominee, The Hague
Selected Press
2025
Kinderkunstweek 2025 (NL), Alles erop en eraan, de mens in de kunst,
Kinderkunstweek 2025 (NL), Van oor tot oor, extra uitgave over Das Leben am Haverkamp bij Alles erop en eraan, de mens in de kunst
2023
Ted Noten & Co (NL), catalogus bij Ted Noten & co - Overwaarde, uitgever: Museum JAN,
NRC (NL), Drie kunstenaars en een ontwerpcollectief maakten een imaginair parfum, image creation + interview, 4 May
2021
Kunst is Lang (NL) aflevering 173 – Das Leben am Haverkamp, 15 June
AVROTROS, NPO1 (NL) Nu te zien, 5 June
Trouw (NL) Hollandse toeristische trekpleisters met een twist, 29 May
Front Row (NL) publication of Consumptie by Das Leben am Haverkamp, a special for the members of We Are Public, March
2020
In Art We Trust (NL) Vier attracties, een kermis, article by Ben Terwel
FashionUnited (NL), De kracht van het ontwerpcollectief, interview by Natasja Admiraal, 4 August
Parool (NL), Iedereen kan mode maken, article by Edo Dijksterhuis, 3 July
De Grote Nederlandse Kunstkalender (NL), edition 2020, photo publication
2019
Jegens & Tevens (NL), Stroom Invest Interviews/artist Dewi Bekker, 13 March
Dream Journal (AUS), Issue Three, 5 May
De Grote Nederlandse Kunstkalender 2019 (NL), page 25 April
2018
NRC (NL), Vanzelfsprekend was de Amsterdamse modeweek nooit, 4 September
Mister Motley Salon (NL), Vier attracties, één kermis, 22 July
Flair (DE/AT), Kuchenkreation von Das Leben am Haverkamp, August issue
i-D Vice (US), meet the radical fashion collective making clothes you can eat, 24 April
See All This, Zeeuws Museum x Das Leben am Haverkamp, no.9, spring issue
Elle Decoration (NL), Salone del Mobile, April
NRC, Tentoonstelling, Op deze expositie moet je het zelf uitzoeken,14 March
Volkskrant, 16 culturele hoogtepunten van 2018, Cultuurtip 8, Originele ontwerpers aan de slag met impressies van museumbezoek, 5 Jan.
Glamcult, Das Leben am Haverkamp teams up with Zeeuws Museum, 16 Feb.
VPRO Nooit Meer Slapen, De Reismicrofoon, 15 Feb.
i-D Vice (NL), Das Leben am Haverkamp raakte geïnspireerd door Zeeuwse folklore, 6 Feb.
2017
Volkskrant V, Het talent van 2018, Mode en design, second place, 28 December (NL)
HP/ De Stijl, Alles Neu!, interview with Das Leben am Haverkamp, winter 2017/18 (NL)
Volkskrant, Dude is wat tijdschrift voor designers moet zijn: vooruitstrevend en elegant, 9 November (NL)
Dude, by BNO, Young Designer Award, herfst 2017 (NL)
Elsevier, Interview met drie kanshebbers voor Young Designer Award, 23 oktober (NL)
Viewpoint, Das Leben am Haverkamp - The fashion rebels, #40 (NL)
Metal Magazine, Das Leben am Haverkamp - Defying fashion as it is, October (ES)
NRC, review Amsterdam Fashion Week, 18 July (NL)
Nylon, Why We’re Obsessed With Amsterdam Fashion Week, 18 July (US)
Metro, Das Leben am Haverkamp opent Fashion Week, 14 July (NL)
Parool, Een schilderij om aan te trekken, 13 July (NL)
Elsevier, Kwartet van solisten in overrompelende show, March (NL)
Glamcult, Meet upcoming fashion designer Dewi Bekker, February (NL)
Fucking Young!, Das Leben am Haverkamp, January (ES)
NRC, 27 January, Nieuwe koers voor Amsterdam Fashion Week (NL)
Volkskrant, 31 January, Overdonderende shows van jong Nederlands talent (NL)
Parool, 26 January, Das Leben am Haverkamp opent Fashionweek met vier shows (NL)
I-D Vice, interview together with Das Leben am Haverkamp, January (NL)
2016
Pairs Project by Eclectic Magazine, #12 Welcome to Cathood, November (FR)
VULKAN magazine, editiorial with Sam Feldt, online (CA)
A Shaded view on Fashion by Diane Pernet, online, (FR)
Eclectic Magazine, Introducing: Das Leben am Haverkamp, January (UK)
2015
Playhaus Magazine, issue 5, editorial, print (US)
Glamcult, issue 8, #116, intro DLAH by Leendert Sonnevelt, print (NL)
LINDA. Wonen, nr 13, editorial, print (NL)
Beyond Man, Entities, editorial, online (IRL)
Lancia Trendvisions, Dewi Bekker adds a little spice and irony to menswear, online (IT)
2014
Ladies&Gents, I was a gay cowboy long before it was cool, by Haris Giannouras, review, online (GR)
2013
Vogue Italia, nr. 757 The talent issue, September 2013, print (IT)
Bright, vol 9, September 2013, print (NL)
Textiel Plus, nr 225, autumn 2013, print (NL)
Glamcult, issue 6, Augustus 2013, print (NL)