Johannes Kloosterhuis paints his miniature houses meticulously with a brush and stencil. The reclusive artist reflects on different forms of living and being.
Synopsis
‘hauspausen’ (houseprints) delves into the solitary life of Johannes Kloosterhuis, a reclusive painter who appears to never leaves his apartment. Through his brush, we experience the world he creates - clusters of houses and brutalist structures that mirror the changing landscape of his gentrifying neighborhood. As Johannes gazes out of his window, capturing the evolution of his surroundings on canvas, we are taken on a journey into his mind. The film unravels the complexities of his childhood, building bridges between the past and the present, the inside and the outside. ‘hauspausen’ (houseprints) transcends the form of documentary portrait into a cinematic meditation on chosen isolation, leaving us longing for a glimpse of sunlight.
Screenings / Awards
Premiere at DOK Leipzig film festival on October 28, 2024 in the section of German Competition.
Nominated for the Golden Dove.
Nominated for the Gedanken-Aufschluss Preis.
Credits
Featuring: Johannes Kloosterhuis
Directed by: Biko Erki, Stefan Koutzev and Nathalie Bailoukova
Director’s Statement
‘hauspausen’ (houseprints) emerged from a guided tour through a now-gentrified neighborhood that once housed an important chemicals factory in Cologne. Rather than documenting the terrain and architectural changes over time, I was immediately more intrigued by the people living there. So, on a rainy afternoon, I began ringing doorbells.
When I first met Johannes, I expected to find a man entirely at peace with his seclusion. Instead, I encountered someone whose art is a delicate balance between resignation and resilience—a man who has learned to find comfort in the familiar, yet cannot fully escape the shadows of his memories.
This film seeks to explore the weight of chosen isolation, the price one pays for retreating from the world, and the beauty that can emerge from such solitude. ‘hauspausen’ (houseprints) does not seek to glamorize isolation, nor does it judge it. Instead, it strives to portray the nuanced reality of a life lived within the confines of one’s own making.
I want to invite viewers to reflect on the spaces we inhabit, both physical and psychological, and how they shape our identities. This is a film that longs for connection while embracing the quietude of distance, offering a glimpse into a world where the outside is forever filtered through the intimate gaze of an artist at his window.