FEBO
Joakim Derlow
Opening hours:
12:00 - 02:00
Address:
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 33
In this work, Joakim draws on his knowledge of camouflage and visual deception, combined with storytelling. A series of fictional characters appear to have sought refuge in this FEBO location. Their survival depends on their ability to blend into their surroundings: their bodies have been adapted to merge with the architecture, objects, and visual language of the space. Some figures are so successful in their disguise that they have lost their original identity. Others fail miserably and betray themselves.
Joakim Derlow is an artist who tells stories through disparate fragments. He works with drawings, sculptures, video, found objects, and his own presence, using the exhibition space as a place where something seems to have happened, or is yet to happen. Together, the works function as a series of clues.
As a visitor, you move through his exhibitions as if following clues. Derlow deliberately plays with camouflage: many works are subtle, hidden, or misleading. In this way, he explores how we see, what we miss, and how visibility is controlled.
Fact and fiction intertwine in his work. At times, Derlow himself steps into the role of guide or performer, transforming viewing into a game of attention and confusion; an invitation to look more closely and more slowly.
About Location
FEBO is one of the most recognizable fast-food chains in the Netherlands, famous for its vending machines and its role in the city's daily rhythm. The branch on Oudezijds Voorburgwal is open day and night, a constant presence in the heart of the city center. Behind the glass windows, haste, hunger, and routine intersect; a stream of locals, night workers, and passersby stop here for their snacks.
What makes this FEBO special is that it has been in the same family since April 1987. Today, the business is run by Quinty and Bowey den Ouden, the third generation since their grandfather opened the branch. For them, FEBO is not an anonymous outlet, but a fixture in the neighborhood: recognizable, accessible, and always present. Personal favorites include the kipkrokant and the grillburger.