For over twenty years, Dutch artist Geert Jan Jansen deceived critics, gallerists, and collectors, claiming to own a collection of more than 1,600 works attributed to masters such as Picasso, Dalí, and Matisse. In reality, the works were forgeries created by him. Jansen argued that he didn’t deceive but “liberated” artists from their work, using irony to justify his actions. His career as a forger was only interrupted by a spelling mistake, which exposed his scam and led to his arrest. What is the line between genius and fraud? With True Copy, BERLIN continues to explore the boundary between reality and fiction, lie and truth, delving into the inner workings of Jansen’s mind and revealing the contradictions of a man who manipulated the art market for decades. The world of art itself, with its beauty and hypocrisy, unfolds before the audience’s eyes: what does authenticity truly mean?
Concept & Direction: BERLIN / Bart Baele and Yves Degryse with Geert Jan Jansen and [alternating] Yves Degryse and Fien Leysen
Assistant: Geert Jan Jansen, Luk Sponselee
Video: BERLIN, Geert De Vleesschauwer, Jessica Ridderhof, and Dirk Bosmans
Video Editing: BERLIN, Geert De Vleesschauwer, and Fien Leysen
Set Design: Manu Siebens, Ina Peeters, and BERLIN
Lighting Design: Barbara De Wit
Musical Composition & Mixing: Peter Van Laerhoven
Live Mixing: Arnold Bastiaanse or Hans De Prins
Piano: Govaart Haché
Cello: Katelijn Van Kerckhoven
Technical Coordination: Manu Siebens, Geert De Vleesschauwer, Marjolein Demey
Technical Assistance: Rex Tee
Sound Recording: Bas De Caluwé and Maarten Moesen
Trailers & Teasers: Fien Leysen and Beeldstorm
Photography: Koen Broos
Production Management: Celeste Driesen and Jessica Ridderhof
Business Management: Tine Verhaert, before: Kurt Lannoye
Office Management: Maya Van der Brempt, before: Jane Seynaeve
Distribution: Eveline Martens
Communications: Sam Loncke
Production: BERLIN
Coproduction: DE SINGEL [Antwerp, BE], le CENTQUATRE-PARIS [FR], Het Zuidelijk Toneel [Tilburg, NL], Brighton Festival [UK], C-TAKT [Limburg, BE], Theaterfestival Boulevard [Den Bosch, NL], PACT Zollverein [Essen, DE]
With Support: Flemish Government, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government [Podiumfonds]
Thanks To: Saskia Verreycken, Diana Boro, Geert Jan Jansen for his help in the preparation and the realization of the project
Additional Information:
BERLIN is an in-house-maker at NTGent (BE), associated artist at DE SINGEL (BE), and international associated artist at le CENTQUATRE-PARIS (FR).
