RomanReuzen

Fewer and fewer people -- and youths in particular -- are reading books. RomanReuzen wants to change that. This national reading-promotion project was initiated by journalist and program maker Frénk van der Linden and photographer Fjodor Buis. RomanReuzen aims to inspire new generations of readers through powerful portraits, in-depth interviews, and encounters with authors. The RomanReuzen exhibition at Fotomuseum Hilversum was part of this broader initiative.

Creators Fjodor Buis and Frénk van der Linden present fifty notable Dutch novelists through striking portraits and in-depth podcast interviews. In addition to capturing the writers’ faces, they also show the sources of their inspiration. Each portrait consists of a studio photograph paired with an image taken at a location of special significance to the author.

In the accompanying interviews, the authors discuss the novels that deeply moved them and how these works influenced their own writing. The exhibition invites visitors to view the portraits, listen to interview excerpts, and discover the books that inspired the writers. In doing so, RomanReuzen sheds a unique light on the mysterious process of literary inspiration and creation.

Outdoor Exhibition on the Kerkbrink
In addition to the exhibition at Fotomuseum Hilversum, there was an outdoor presentation on the Kerkbrink, in front of the museum.

50 Podcast interviews
Frénk van der Linden spoke with fifty authors about their work and the books that inspired them. The conversations are freely available on all major podcast platforms, as well as in Dutch libraries and schools.

The book RomanReuzen
Parallel to the exhibition, the book RomanReuzen was published by Luitingh-Sijthoff. In it, 52 authors -- including Adriaan van Dis, Erna Sassen, and Tommy Wieringa -- share the novels that deeply moved them and how these works influenced their own writing.

About Stichting Mediaplein / LAB Mediaplein
Stichting Mediaplein, a collaboration between Beeld & Geluid, Fotomuseum Hilversum, and Bibliotheek Hilversum, aims to make “Hilversum Media City” visible and accessible for all residents. The RomanReuzen project demonstrates how a story can be told across different media -- through images, but also by using the podcast format, specifically through interviews. You can learn how to do this yourself during one of the workshops at LAB Mediaplein.

About the Creators: Fjodor Buis and Frénk van der Linden
Fjodor Buis is a renowned portrait photographer, known for the project Dienaren van de Kroon (“Servants of the Crown”), in which he photographed ministers and prime ministers. For RomanReuzen, he photographed fifty authors and brought their love of literature to life.

Frénk van der Linden has been interviewing for forty years for de Volkskrant, NRC, and Kunststof (Radio 1), and he also produces television documentaries. For RomanReuzen, he spoke with 52 authors about their work and the books that inspired them. The podcasts are freely available to all libraries and educational institutions.