Michiel Vijselaar
Michiel Vijselaar (Hoensbroek, 1959) studied graphic design at the Sint Joost Academy, and visual arts at Artez (grad. 1986).
From 1993 on, he has been making photo illustrations for various magazines and newspapers. By means of toys, scale-models, souvenirs and domestic appliances he created icon-like images that visualize the essence of the article in question.
Tjarda Sixma
Tjarda Sixma (Sittard, 1962) studied visual arts at Artez in Arnhem (grad. 1984), and new media and digital culture at the University of Utrecht (2007).
In the late 1980s she became known for her work in staged photography. In these works she took on archetypical roles with the use of painted backgrounds as décor. In the 1990s she started painting and made the Statuettes series, depicting kitschy baubles. In 2000 she returned to staged photography. In the Dollhouse works she enacts domestic scenes by “photoshopping” herself into carefully built miniature rooms full of references.
In addition to her visual work she publishes and lectures about Internet communication and Virtual Worlds.
Vijselaar en Sixma
From 1984 to1993 Sixma and Vijselaar made brief narrative video films in which painted sceneries and scale-models featured prominently. These filmed tableaux vivants were shown at various video festivals and museums in the Netherlands and abroad.
Since 2002 they work together on illustrations, mixing tabletop photography with digital image manipulation. Their illustrations cover areas such as: financial-economic subjects, management, the media and environmental issues. They work for both general-interest magazines and sponsored magazines.
Clients: Quote, Elle, Elsevier, De Volkskrant, VPRO, ANWB.