Film premiere during the Milano Design Film Festival at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Italy.
Ruben Van Leer, an artist renowned for his award-winning films and interdisciplinary projects, is deeply influenced by his musical heritage and early engagement with contemporary film and theatre. His creations skillfully merge cinema, dance, music, digital art, avant-garde, and pop culture, aiming to connect diverse audiences worldwide.
By the age of 18, Van Leer had already earned two cultural awards: one for a film and print campaign for the Foundation Against Useless Violence, aired on MTV, and the NTR WebDance award, which led to the production of "Merkavah," a contemporary dance film for NPO3.
His education includes Advanced Filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute under Oscar nominee Jay Rosenblatt, an MFA degree in Social Design from the Sandberg Institute, and an MA degree in film from the Netherlands Film Academy.
Van Leer's collaborations span various disciplines, working with figures like opera maker Michel van der Aa on "The Book Of Sand," film director Peter Greenaway on "Writing On Water," pianist Tigran Hamasyan on "Cave Of Rebirth," composer Kate Moore on the VR-performance “Sacred Environment,” and choreographer Bill T. Jones on "I Know."
His notable work, "Symmetry" (2015), a sci-fi dance-opera film, was filmed at CERN and explores a science physicist's quest intertwined with a profound love story, earning 11 international awards including the Golden Prague for Best Performance Arts. It has been showcased globally and is available on Amazon Prime and AppleTV in 8 languages.
"Sacred Environment" (2017), in collaboration with Kate Moore, won an Audience Award at the Holland Festival. It examines the contemporary relevance of sacred sites through live music and VR, premiered at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
"Power Of Water" (2021), featuring Thekla Reuten and Davina Michelle, addressed climate change and was broadcasted to 180 million viewers during the Eurovision Song Contest.
Van Leer has also directed music videos and live video stages for bands like Coldplay and The Black Eyed Peas, and developed branded content for major brands, collaborating with top global agencies.
He founded Truth.io, a non-profit for artistic research and crossmedia arts collaboration, partnering with prestigious institutions such as Arts@CERN and the Holland Festival, showcasing Van Leer’s commitment to blending art, science, and deep societal themes.
“Van Leer specializes in the refraction of the scientific through art.”
Filming Lukáš Timulak’s dance triggering data live in Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.
Filming pop-band Yeasayer inside science lab Naturalis, Leiden.
Infiltrating a regular working day at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.
Artist Statement
“In my art, I blend visual storytelling, music, drama, and consciousness, pushing crossmedia boundaries. I place fictional characters in real settings, creating a unique visual language. For instance, my film at CERN captured inside the actual Large Hadron Collider features a fictional character on a fantastical journey, highlighting the tension between imagination and science. I explore themes like existence as a simulation, suggesting technological advancements reflect our natural abilities for self-determination and connectivity. These themes raise questions about cosmic origins and integrating ancient beliefs in a modern, digital world. My work aims to deepen our understanding of human experience, bridging ancient myths with modern science through art. By transcending genres in cinema, theatre, and digital arts, we challenge perceived reality and discover new perspectives. My studio commits to cross-disciplinary research, exploring human identity and potential through collaborations across diverse fields and cultures.”
–Ruben Van Leer
“[Film project] Symmetry is the perfect collision of science and art.”
Fusing choreographed data with CERN data, with support of Microsoft.
Shooting soprano Claron McFadden on Uyuni’s salt flat, Bolivia.
60 meter under ground in CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
“Ruben Van Leer’s pointillistic laser scan images [in VR] of Hunter Valley in Australia formed a stunning visual counterpart.”
Stage visuals The Black Eyed Peas - The Energy Never Dies tour USA & Europe.
Live VR performance Sacred Environment at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
Realtime vocal-visual instrument with music band My Baby, Paradiso Amsterdam.