About me

I create worlds where audiences are invited to wander — between puppets, projections, and quiet moments that feel like breaths in an overly fast world. My name is Lenke Duyvendak, based in Utrecht, and I work as a puppeteer/maker, (live) animator, and builder of small inner worlds. My practice moves between puppetry, animation, visual art and performance, often blending analogue and digital media. The recurring themes in my work are femininity, growing up, memory, and embodiment.

As a child, I was fascinated by animation: the ability to create worlds myself and then watch them come alive. During my BA in 2D Animation at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht (2018–2022), I experimented with analogue techniques, yet missed the direct connection with audiences. I longed to let them share the sense of wonder I felt when a technique suddenly came to life, rather than erasing all traces of process and imperfection.

In 2021, during my internship at Utrecht-based company Studio Figur, I discovered the world of puppetry. Working with puppets and overhead projections, I realised that their tactile quality truly flourishes in front of an audience — it is only through their imagination that drawings and puppets can come alive. Personally, I also felt the strength of this medium. During the pandemic, when I was struggling, puppetry grounded me in the present, allowing me to marvel at small things again.

I continued this exploration in my graduation film Alma (2022), inspired by the Japanese bunraku technique, in which one puppet is animated by three puppeteers. The film aimed to immerse viewers in a sensory experience. After graduating, I co-founded Diatheater, a youth theatre collective with Femke Bun and Emy Schuite (later joined by Elena Migo). Together we create live animated performances combining puppetry, live drawing, and live music, presented at festivals in the Netherlands and abroad. Performing there taught me a lot about transparency: when the audience sees how a story is made, the magic can become even greater.

I further developed my practice through workshops and training in puppetry, puppet building, and the use of cameras within performance. I attended The Dark Side of Puppetry by Scottish maker Gavin Glover, which explored alternative uses of puppetry as well as micro-cinema: small worlds filmed and incorporated live on stage (in line with the work of Hotel Modern). In the winter of 2023–24, I completed the intensive Curious School of Puppetry in London, where I studied a wide range of techniques and expanded my international network. In 2024 I also joined the Studio Camera Lab in Utrecht, a talent program for young lens-based makers, where I experimented with forms of live animation in film, working with Raymond Carver’s short story I Could See the Smallest Things.

My practice extends into installations and interdisciplinary projects. For instance, Heiligdom (2023), an interactive work where visitors performed rituals using objects I designed, was presented as part of the exhibition Heilige Huisjes in Utrecht. I am currently involved in The Archivist, a puppetry film in development by Roos Buskes and Aidan Vernee. Most recently, I created live visuals with overhead projections for Metamorfose, the anniversary concert by Dekoor in TivoliVredenburg’s Grote Zaal. In 2024 I also contributed as head of colour to the award-winning short animation film Mother’s Child by Naomi Noir.

My work exists at the intersection of puppetry, animation, and visual art, always striving for tactile, poetic experiences that open up space for reflection and imagination. I live in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

You can approach me for both film, theater and fine arts projects, in one of the following disciplines:

• Puppet making
• Puppetry
• Animation
• Illustration
• Production/theater design
• Directing
• Camera
• Editing
  

Artist statement

With my work I want to connect my inner world to yours. I want to get you out of your head and awaken your sense of wonder, for the vulnerable and for the quiet. I am fascinated by animation in the literal sense. From a strong, unique intuition I bring tactile materials to life to make puppetry films, animations, installations and plays. I love collaborating with other disciplines to immerse you in a sensory experience.