“What’s up Next?” is a series of articles and interviews meant to better showcase the trajectories of our Next Talents.
We are meeting the 2025-2026 XR generation in two key moments: at the start of their trajectory – focussing on finding out more about the artists and what they expect from the program, and at the end of their course, discussing the things they picked up on the way.
With this interview we are introducing you to animation and video artist Okke van Breemen.
Okke van Breemen is an animation and video artist with a deep fascination for real-time systems—environments where imagery is generated live and can be manipulated and performed much like a musical instrument.
“I studied visual storytelling at AKV|St. Joost”, Okke says. “Since then, I’ve been collaborating with different orchestras, theatre collectives and other disciplines in the performing arts—mainly focusing on interactive visuals for projections and technological development for interactive installations and experiences.”
We asked Okke to tell us a bit about a project he worked on, close to his heart. “Resonating Landscapes is an interactive installation with real-time video projections. By playing a MIDI controller, visitors could grow landscapes. These landscapes would grow and wither according to how the installation was played.
In this way, the installation invites visitors to explore parts of the landscape that often pass by unnoticed.
This project meant a lot because it allowed me to use technology—often considered a tool of escapism—as a means to reconnect with my surroundings. It is exactly this tension that drives my investigation for the Playgrounds Next XR program: How can immersive technologies become mediums not of escapism, but of ecological intimacy?
I have a strong fascination for real-time systems—environments in which imagery is generated live and can be manipulated and performed much like a musical instrument. For these real-time visuals and interactive systems, I develop my own software and hardware. My practice is driven by a continuous search for translation across media and disciplines. I aim to achieve moments of complete synchronisation, where disparate elements come together in perfect alignment”.
We were also curious to find out which artists Okke looks up to. “An artist who greatly inspires me is Olafur Eliasson. By altering small factors in reality, or by isolating a specific element and placing it in a completely different context, he playfully makes you more aware of the reality you are part of. He has a simple exercise where you walk in slow motion; by doing this, you become aware of all the muscles you use for balance. I believe exercises like these make you more immersed in daily life.”
We asked Okke why he wanted to join our Next XR trajectory. “What appeals to me most about this program is the opportunity to experiment and to arrive at new insights through the process of making—and the time I am given to do so.
In many past projects, the pace was so fast that you were expected to know exactly what the work was about from the start, while at the beginning of a process you often don’t know yet. I am really looking forward to creating a work that evolves from research and to discuss it along the way with a coach and fellow participants.”
We also wanted to know what were Okke’s plans for the Next program. “I intend to explore the development of a multi-sensory immersive experience that allows audiences to engage with natural processes in ways that transcend ordinary perception. Central to this research is the question: What does it feel like to become part of a landscape—to sense the tremble of footsteps as a path, or to shift between the states of water: solid, liquid, vapor? These transformations are not narrative in the traditional sense, but rather embodied, elemental experiences that aim to evoke empathy and reconnection.
My goal for the Next program is to experiment as much as possible and work towards a concrete project plan that I can further develop afterwards—and to meet many new people in the field. During the first weeks of the program, I have already met many interesting people and had inspiring conversations and workshops. I’m really looking forward to what the rest of Next will bring.”How did Okke hear of our program, we wondered. “I have been wanting to join the regular Next program for a few years now. A friend told me about the new XR trajectory, which sounded like a much better fit—shifting away from traditional animation and illustration and focusing more on immersive and interactive experiences. This aligned much better with the projects I was doing and wanted to do.
It also came at the right time for me. In my recent collaborations, there has been an increasing demand for my technical skills. While these collaborations have been very valuable, I feel the need to further explore my own artistic identity. The Next program offers me the time and resources to do exactly that.”
Of course, we also wanted to know who Okke’s dream mentor would be. “The writer Robert Macfarlane, even if he is not someone from the visual field” Okke answered. “In his highly poetic books, he often explores the landscape and nature, how our perception of them has evolved over time, and how we relate to them. His writing blends history and research on writers, philosophers, and different cultures, often guided by his own travels and fieldwork, to explore why we are drawn to the natural world. While reading his books, you feel as if you are walking in different times and seeing through different lenses.I think a mentoring session with him would be very valuable in helping me formulate and analyse what my project is about. I’m more of an intuitive maker and often find it difficult to pin down or articulate the essence of the projects I’m working on. A mentoring session with him could help me deepen and clarify my research.”
Intriguing. Just like all projects Okke has so far worked on. We can’t wait to see what he will accomplish through this program.