Deine Lakaien

Connect the stars

augustus 11, 2025augustus 11, 2025admin

Summer blog this one is always the hardest to pick a subject. After a few weeks of and doing fun things it’s hard to pick a subject. Shall I write about my vacation to Nurnberg or dedicate a blog about the Wicker ritual at Castlefest. What about my visit to Schloss Moyland and the Marina Abramovic & MAI exhibition. Or are they not so far apart? And is it all about connection? Embrace and let go, breath in and breath out.

So my summer was a magical evening in Nurnberg a concert of Deine Lakaien that felt it was directed by the universe. With a thunderstorm that delayed the show but with the perfect timing of the sun breaking through and bats flying over as the sun went down. That brings me to Castlefest festival (pictures) where they have the wicker ritual. It was 10 years ago after my first time I put something in the wicker. A ritual with some rain before it started just like with the concert. But magical during the show. The wicker is a personal ritual where people put something in the wicker to let go. Because of the theme I decided to let go and embrace. Embrace myself and continue on my path.

Between everything I went to the exhibition of Marina Abramovic & MAI. Personally she’s one of my favourite modern artist and always fascinated me during my art studies. The way Marina Abramovic connect how her work connect people. Her student from MAI who performed work that connect Abramovic and Beuys and then to the audience. And yes you can argue on the personal visions and believe. I also do not always agree with the material or form they use. But in the core it’s all about connection and reflection.

You were not just a visitor. You were my life.
_{– Marina Abrovic about Uley 2012}

You might ask yourself: Helene you had a fun summer but still how does it connect? Wel for me I see a clear connection between all three events. It’s all about connection and love. A reflection to connecting with yourself. From to love yourself to breathing from you core. It’s all about you just you being you. Meet people connect to people. For a year I did a lot of walks and made pictures and later I found out it were walks to connect to myself. Sometimes some walks along other times I’m alone. But it’s just like life if we dare to connect we can grow and see the most beautfitul things.

The starts in sky are like dots we just need to connect them. We just need to look up and don’t be afraid to connect.

Helene

Breath

Marina Abramovic & MAI im Dialog mit Joseph Beuys

Photo impression of the exhibition.

Why I choose documentary photography

oktober 15, 2024oktober 15, 2024admin

As a child I was always singing and dancing. As my mother always tells me that’s the moment when I’m always shining. So my love for music sparked my interest in tour documentaries and photographers like Anton Corbijn. This because I never see myself as a good singer or dancer. But the magic of music always got my attention. Also the art of fantasy movies and puppeteers. So I decided to study Multimedia Design to become a director.

During my study’s I had a teacher who had lived the rockstar life in the times of Top of the pops. So he was a big inspiration for me (even I’m not that wild). During my study I found out that I could express myself better with photography. All the freedom and I could work on my own. With a friend from the graphic design study we started Noize Magazine an E-zine (which was revolutionary at that time) with our passion for music, art, fashion and all gothic lifestyle. After we stopped Noize Magazine in the end of 2011. After that I was still studying Documentary Photography at the Art Academy of Sint Joost (NL). And my boyfriend (now husband) had his music promotion company so I still made pictures. But in 2014 after I lost my daughter I stopped making art and (documentary) photography.

Deine Lakaien
In 2007 when we were preparing for Noize Magazine I was that Deine Lakaien would come to the Netherlands. Even it was there 20 years tour I just discovered them during a visit to Berlin where I ended up at their concert with the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt. I got a photopass and against the note “no backstage access” I ended up meeting them backstage. For four years I have made pictures at several Deine Lakaien and Vejlanov concert and it was always a magical moment and almost a coming home. But as I stopped in 2014 I pushed away everything I loved. But corona times in 2020 brought nostalgic on the table and with endless scrolling time on social media they popped up. So slowly I started to follow them again. And with a warm welcome in Osnabruck 2021 (with all corona measurements) and a welcome home in Koln 2022. It was like all those years gone never existed.
In 2024 I started to sort out my old photography work. And the thought of making pictures again at the Veljanov concert just like “the old days”. So last Saturday I ended up making pictures at the Seiss Planetarium Bochum. After 14 years I was making pictures again. It was like it was 2007 again small venue a magical venue and a perfect balance of listing and capturing the moment. But now with a upgrade set and it was like my break of photography was never there.

But now still making a tour documentary I again on my bucket list. Well mabe one day? I will see what will come on my path. And now I’m thinking I’m slightly doing that with at the Osse Opera where I’m singing.

Klik here to go the full Deine Lakaien photoseries

Sometimes the only thing that has changed is time
Helene Smits

Deine Lakaien – Zeiss Planetarium Bochum 12-10-2024

oktober 12, 2024oktober 15, 2024admin

A magical evening in a small outerspace dream setting. The concert was in a small magical setting. One almost impossible to capture on film. But it tried and if you get the chance to go then go. Just to let yourself drift away underneath the stars.

Also thank you to Gerold Smits for helping with the editing.
Pictures copyright Helene Smits