‘To register, I want to register places and things before it gets destroyed by modernity and progression. Before it is lost forever.’ — Henri Plaat
‘Amsterdam-born Henri Plaat (b. 1936) is a Dutch visual artist and creator of graphic work, drawings, gouaches, and collages. His freedom of spirit expressed itself early in his life when he departed secondary school prematurely in order to enroll in university to study typography. However, feeling limited by the bounds of his academic coursework, he spent time drawing and found inspiration within ancient writing systems, among them Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mayan script. Influenced by his personal memories of World War II and newsreels of the time, he developed his unique artistic style to, as he puts it, “rebel against reality.”
‘In 1966, Plaat picked up a movie camera and started to make films—first on 8mm and then later on 16mm. In his shorter filmic performances, he combines the photographic montage with opera, juxtaposing composer Richard Wagner and UFA actress Zarah Leander with war sounds and aircraft noise. Plaat playfully examines the absurd within the theatrical through associative improvisation, and thus sets a contrast to the crude reality of the haunting wars that ravaged Europe at the beginning of the 20th century.
‘Plaat’s interest in the interplay between the imaginary and the real is reflected in his painterly use of analog film. In a career spanning over 40 films, his decision to work on film was informed by the visual qualities of Kodachrome and Tri-X reversal stocks, which could best express his singular preference for light, shadow, and color. His eclectic travelogues are fantastical elegies that venture into dream-like expeditions—to places in Mexico, India, Greece, and New York City—with a focus on derelict landscapes and their dilapidated beauty. There, his melancholic camera gaze takes in fallen empires and captures the persistence of traces of antiquity in the present, expressing his art’s innate nostalgia while also embodying an urge for truthfulness, to learn from history and to conserve this sentiment for future humanity.’ — Marius Hrdy
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Stills
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A little further
Henri Plaat Website
Henri Plaat @ IMDb
DVD: ‘Seven Films by Henri Plaat’
‘Roger Katwijk; Henri Plaat – Mede te nemen bij brand!’
Henri Plaat @ mubi
Henri Plaat @ Letterboxd
Rebel Against Reality: The Spheres of Henri Plaat
The Poetics of Memory and Decay: Henri Plaat
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Portrait: Henri Platt
‘A pinhole movie presented by Jérôme Schlomoff. This film proposes a cinematographic portrait of the Dutch artist Henri Plaat, by filming the processing of the silver print letting appear its photographic portrait. At the same time as the image is created in the darkroom, the hands of Henri Plaat tear a board of paperboard. It creates in its turn, randomly of this uncontrolled “work of destruction” the ghostly images with the torn pieces. Characters, animals, landscapes, architectures, boats, as many images belonging to the artistic Universe of Henri Plaat, who practices painting, cutting paper & cinema.’ — JS
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Kettel meets Henri Plaat
‘Electronic music producer KETTEL creates a score for Henri Plaat’s films.’ — Cinesonic
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Collages
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7 of Henri Platt’s 35 films
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Other Thoughts 4 (2008)
‘‘Other Thoughts 4 is a series of portraits with images that are silenced as a binding element. A surrealistic world that is not strange, but rather consists of fragments of dreams and sometimes of worry. The assembly is determined by image and atmosphere. A melancholic film composed of material that Plaat collected in the course of his various travels.‘ — iffr.com
the entire film
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A Fleeting Dream (2004)
‘A Fleeting Dream (2004) can be considered the nucleus of Plaat’s work. A collage of his own backlog of film footage, spanning almost his entire cinematic oeuvre, we engage in travels to remote places, and are shown random objects, faces, trains rolling, and people dancing. A couple of scenes summarize Plaat’s enchantment with the past: a butler opening a fridge that is in the end empty, derelict sceneries passing by, and smoke coming out of a cut-out in a poster of a movie diva. A Fleeting Dream stands as something like a cinematic testament and a final ode to his filmwork.’ — Marius Hrdy
the entire film
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2nd War Hats (1986-87)
‘2nd War Hats shows a series of heads with absurd sumptuous covering peeping out of manhole covers. A number of questions emerge: prairie dogs sniffing, deciding whether or nor to come out of their burrows? Men dressed up as women? Unsafe to come out from the man-hole?’ — Senses of Cinema
Excerpt
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Fragments of Decay (1983)
‘Architectural shots of abandoned buildings, walls, the kind that appear in the nether landscapes of Cocteau’s Orpheus (1949), but emptied, worn, eroded, silent, pensive and wise.’ — Cine Sonic
the entire film
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Now that You Are Gone (1977)
‘A surreal encounter at Père Lachaise cemetery between brightly coloured jelly pudding and Mickey Mouse.’ — Letterboxd
the entire film
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The Strange But Unknown Star (1969)
‘A ten-year-old girl dressed as a 1920s star gives a performance. She wears a rubber mask, sits in a large, red armchair, and reads magazines that revive actresses from the past. Annette Hanshaw sings in the background. Marlene Dietrich is bombarded with egg, chocolate powder, powdered sugar and currants.’ –– Eye
the entire film
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I am an old smoking, moving Indian Movie Star (1968)
‘A veiled Indian lady talks to the camera (silent). Her story is told in images.’ — re-voir.com
the entire film
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p.s. Hey. ** Dominik, Hi!!! People tell me that on Halloween there were lots of people walking around Paris in costumes. I’ve never seen that before, so I guess Halloween is catching on here too finally. I just wish the French would realise that Halloween haunted houses are a whole lot more interesting than Halloween escape rooms, but maybe next year. I got almost normal sleep last night, so I’ll credit love. Love defeating Trump today, G. ** jay, Hi. No other Bataille novel is quite that sexual, but they’re great in other ways. Maybe try ‘Blue of Noon’ next? I’ll see if I can locate that ‘Quintuplets’ show and see what’s what, thanks. Pressure unfelt, no problem. I think I might be awake enough later today if I’m lucky. I saw that ‘secret retreat’ video. How insane. The motivation behind making that is very mysterious. Thanks, pal. ** Cletus, Hey. KGB is cool. Great. That sounds lovely: the gigs. I’ve been to the Mutter, and, yes, it’s amazing. There’s a really good episode of Errol Morris’s old TV series ‘First Person’ where he interviews the Mutter’s director Gretchen Worden if you’re interested. It’s here. If you put the Cher photo somewhere, like on social media or another site/space, you can link me to it? No pressure though. Happy Tuesday to you. ** Charalampos, Hi. It was you I was talking about the Purdy with, I now remember. Your deity hands from the sky sounds like a film. News from me? Not a ton, but I’m still a little hazy from jet lag so the recent past isn’t wildly accessible. There are some film updates, but I can’t talk about them yet. Good updates for once. Take care. ** _Black_Acrylic, Oh, shit, not again. Re: the class not happening. What’s up with the Dundee’s scribes?! But I’m happy to hear that you’re onto the writing anyway. Do keep me up on the progressions, yes. And the PTs are so close by in my future that I can almost hear them. ** Bill, Will do on the possible haunt, but it’ll be a while. Yes, I’d love to hear or see the gig recording if it becomes public fodder. Hong Kong, right. Have you noticed any very recognisable changes since China got overly involved? ** Steve, Hi. Probably not too much like my novels since we would want kids to be able to saunter or tiptoe through the haunt. I’ve heard of ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’, but not the others. Awesome about you and The Quietus. Congratulations to you and them. Apropos of nothing, I still really miss Tiny Mix Tapes. It, The Quietus, and The Wire were my music go-to’s. The election stress is very intense. Even over here. Here’s desperately hoping we can speak tomorrow amidst a celebration. ** Justin D, Hi, Justin. Oh, that photo is actually me in my Paris pad, taken just before I took off for the States. The photographer was very nice. The only way to watch Criterion here is via a VPN, but the connection is so bad and slow, it’s not worth it. Gregg did weigh directing ‘Frisk’. but he couldn’t figure out how to depict the violence. I have MUBI, so I’ll go check out the Kentridge series, thank you. I think I’ll know later today if my lag is in its death throes or not. Prayers. ** Tyler Ookami, Let me know how ‘Tormented’ is. I’ve been curious about it. Yes, I have a lot of LA artist friends, and almost all of them do installation work or sculpture. Which is ripe for the haunt. Hm, I don’t know Gregory Horror Show, but now I’ll at least get a bead on it thanks to you. Seems very cool. ** HaRpEr, Already? That was easy. And heat to boot? And just in the nick of time if our newly wintery weather here extends into your realm. Wow, nice day you had there. I too should read ‘Narrow Rooms’. What’s in your immediate future? ** Lucas, I will share them somehow once Zac jets them to me. You can show me your photos on your phone when you’re here. Problem solved. I’m happy to hear the anti-depressants are working. I have a number of artist and writer friends on them who seems quite productive, so your experience following suit makes sense. The Xiu Xiu gig is sold out, and I didn’t get tickets, alas. I’d ask Jamie to put me on the guest list, but things between him and Zac and me are still a little too fraught for that, I think. Oh well. Greatest day to you! ** Corey Heiferman, Your first comment didn’t come through, so I’m glad you tried again. Jesus, you’ve been all over the place. That’s crazy. Envy on Poland and Prague and South Korea and of course Tokyo, where I hope to get to go again before too long. Sadly not on Halloween, although hopefully long before then. I’m kind of with you on Berlin, but it’s an unpopular opinion, whatever that means. Right now I’m mostly tying to get the film on its route into the world. Things look promising. And writing the next film. Film, film, that’s me all over. And enjoying winter’s encroachment on Paris and looking to catch up on lots of art and films and stuff the very second my body clock gives up its doggedness. Great to see you! ** Right. Today I’m presenting works by an excellent experimental filmmaker, Henri Plaat, whom I’m thinking many of you might not be familiar with, experimental film being a tough find in general. Hope you like. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
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Oh this looks really lovely, I’ll definitely check his stuff out when I get back from work. Yeah, I did hear that about Eye being the most sexual Bataille novel, but I’m not at all bothered, I imagine his other stuff is amazing too. My friend Sean basically told me the exact same thing as you, about Blue of Noon being amazing – I think he said the opening was particularly shocking, but that it was worth sitting through, and I’m always really interested by fiction that frontloads the more frightful imagery/content, then deals with it for the rest of the novel. Blue of Noon it is, then. Thank you!
Yeah, that secret retreat thing is so bizarre – me and my flatmates (who are all super norm-core guys, but lovely) kind of went down a rabbithole of this channel. It seems to just pick names / photos from headlines, and then look up their address, and algorithmically create a video. Most of the other videos seem accurate, but your one is (presumably) incorrect, unless there’s secretly a huge amount of money in writing experimental literature. Anyway, we figured out there’s a second Dennis Cooper, who is a trucking billionare, so that seems to be what happened – it just mixed you two up. So yeah, unfortunately not as confusing or mysterious as it appears.
Anyway, fingers crossed for tomorrow. All the polls near me seem to be pretty positive, so fingers crossed. See you tomorrow, hopefully with good news.
Hi!!
A lot of things are a whole lot more interesting than any kind of escape room, but haunted houses especially. Should go without saying. (To be fair, I haven’t been to too many escape rooms, but the lowest point was a “sexy” one we visited as part of a bachelorette party. Maybe it would’ve been sexier if visitors weren’t expected to giggle at the sight of a simple dildo and if said dildo hadn’t been literally furry from all the dust and who knows what else stuck to it…)
I won’t ask love to divide his energies right now – love indeed defeating Trump today, Od.
Henri Plaat is a new name for me and I especially enjoy Kettel’s dreamy soundtracking of his films here.
Dennis! Hey. Yes, it was great to see you in NYC. It had been a while Quite the turnout too, and a ton of fun at the reading. It was all new to Alex. We had a great time in the city. Lots of walking, lots of food. We hit a lot of places. He wants to go back. We might do a family thing around Christmas time.
Hope your time in LA was fun too.
Hi D! Thanks for the fb message, that’s really great you’ll let me show a gif work! is there a particular one you’d like to show? things are pretty good with me, i actually got some money for my show! i found out yesterday. i’m super happy about it, and relieved because it would’ve been very difficult otherwise. i also got a little money from the gallery so i was able to go to the dentist and get a cavity filled, and buy a winter jacket:)) your halloween sounds incredible. and the potential haunted house you’re doing sounds like heaven on earth!! maybe that’ll have to be my excuse to do halloween in la next year, if i can scrape together the money! what a dream. can i ask which artists you’ve been talking about doing it with?
xoxo k
Hi Dennis!
Good to have the blog back. Loved the post on Eustace Chisholm yesterday. I’ve just been thinking about that book, because I finished Shy last week and I feel like the endings of those books are pretty resonant, with the way that they both sharply shift into s&m relationships. Obviously the one in Eustace Chisholm is more violent, but I think it’s an interesting connection, especially since Purdy has a quote on the back of Shy (under yours). Also love this post, because I’ve never heard of Plaat. Excited to dig into his work.
Hope your month has been good and your Halloween was great. Sadly just stayed in, but it was great seeing all the costumes at the school I worked at and all the decorations in my neighborhood.
I got published twice last month!
My alma mater’s literary journal: https://allium.colum.edu/fall-2024-poetry/huckleberry-shelf
The award that Amy Gerstler selected: https://poets.org/2024-billy-maich-award
I’d love to hear what you think whenever you find a moment to look at them. Also, I’d love your recommendations for things to do in Los Angeles. I’m visiting this weekend, and looking for cool things to see. Favorite bookstores? Amazing art you saw while you were there last?
Thanks!
Huckleberry
Dennis!!!
I hope you’ve gotten the chance to rest after you trip now. I’d love to hear about your Halloween-Highlights if your melted jet lag brain has started to come together again!
Thank you for the good wishes on me and the girl who owned a copy of ‘The Sluts’. I really hope it works out, even though I doubt it.
That’s so cool that you know bob hund!!! I’m happy to hear they aren’t 100% limited to Sweden hahah! What do you think of them? Any songs that stick out to you? I think they’re my favorite band of all time, at least for the moment ! I think half of my enjoyment comes from their great lyrics though. “Det Överexponerade Gömstället” (means “The Overexposed Hiding-Place”) is one of my favorites, but that one reaaally relies on lyrics.
I’m happy to say school is pretty great, at least the social part of it. I have started to feel really comfortable here, I’m in this great friend group and I truly feel accepted, I can’t remember the last time I was so happy with people. The studies are a lot though, I’m so tired all the time now because of them (I can barely go to the cinema without falling asleep nowadays) but I guess that’s the price I have to pay for the great friends. Oh, and I have become the leader of the schools official film club! I’m really happy about that.
Hope your past weekend was amazing, and that the one that just started is looking swell. Always excited talking to you. XO, Måns
Hey. I have a fairly normal week ahead, an early lecture tomorrow and several projects I have to be working on for various classes. Poems for my experimental module, I have to plan out a story for another module and do more planning for my dissertation (which is a creative piece, the first 7,500 words of a novel accompanied by a 1,500 word critical essay). Luckily the only critical thing I have to do before the winter break is a presentation for my ‘Gender and Sexuality’ class. A lot of lecturers notice how much I read and assume I must have aspirations of being an academic. I don’t have an academic mind at all. The thing that happens to interest me about a given thing is something that probably isn’t mentioned when its being studied. I’m bad at explaining it. I got really bad marks when I was in school doing English and my teachers said my ideas were too broad and abstract. I remember a teacher using the phrase ‘non-tangible’. And yeah, I guess they were right. I don’t know why I went on about that. It only annoyed me because people have said that to me more than once and I’m trying to figure out why they say it.
Anyway, in between all of that stuff I work on the novel I’ve been writing for two damn years. On Saturday I’m probably going to a post-Halloween costume party. Cowboy themed unfortunately, I wish it was something else. A drugstore cowboy maybe? Anyway, how’s your week treating you? I started reading Sebald’s ‘Austerlitz’ and am really getting into it. Really interesting sentence structures. Sebald has been imitated a lot since his death, but obviously never matched.
Aw man, I really did like Tormented. I like those sequels where the first film is a movie within a movie. The sequences with the demonic bunny mascot leading characters around a theme park are great. I love the way that the CGI for the little bunny doll is fully cartoonish and doesn’t really try to integrate it into any of the live action. I was frustrated about a third of the way through because it seemed like everything would be explained away with an obvious twist but then it jumps right back into the layers of dream within a hallucination within a movie within a theme park within whatever insanity.
I linked Gregory Horror on Youtube, I think, a while back because there are parts of God Jr. that remind me a lot of it. It’s a multimedia franchise (originally an animation, a Playstation game, and a tabletop game) about this guest house that’s a sort of purgatory where various cute anthropomorphic objects, toys, plants, and animals weigh the viewers sins with the looming threat of damnation. It’s one of those pieces of media that feels like it doesn’t really exist, like I dreamt it or something. All of the cartoons are on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJJFdxwOxdE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmVulwlOjLU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewchZMWPTCk
Today has been even more stressful than I imagined, but I feel calmer after voting. (This was the first time I’ve seen a cop guarding the polling location, a nearby school.) I’ll try to avoid the news for the rest of the day.
We’re lucky that The Wire has been around since 1982, with a steady circulation over the last 25 years. When I approached Tiny Mix Tapes about writing for them, their editor told me it was the product of a few people using pseudonyms. If just 4 or 5 writers were behind the entire site, I can see why they burned out.
Hello from a swing state! The vibes are not good right now but that’s ok. Taking deep breaths and returning to reading. Thanks for the recommendation! Will def check out Plaat after I’m done with this history of the Romantic movement. There’s a steadiness to the blog that’s comforting. Not much to say but I head over for a translation conference in a couple days that should be nice. Unfortunately it’s for one of the many languages I do not speak, so we’ll have to see how to navigate that. Wishing you some good tea. Oh also working on a zine this week that should be nice. It’s writing heavy, true to tradition. I’ve noticed many contemporary zines seem to flip that and maybe we’ll do that with our next edition.
Thanks so much for the lovely, fascinating and hilarious video. My partner and I watched it in bed and it helped to offset some of the anxiety and craziness of election day. The lady is iconic and has a great fun creepy authentic caring kind presence. It also makes me appreciate the museum more. Also, I just started reading Autoportrait after the blog feature and it’s great. A little book that fits in my back pocket that’s very powerful. Excited to finish it. Happy the blog featured it.