In Memoriam - Michel Koiter (of Twincruiser)

Born: San Rafael, Argentina - 3 May 1984

Passed away: Rotterdam, The Netherlands - 18 March 2004

n Thursday 18 March 2004 my twin brother Michel passed away because of a heart failure. In a matter of three days he progressed from a simple fever to a life-threatening situation which, in the end, took his life at the age of 19. Doctors tried to reanimate him in his last two hours in the hospital but they could not help him. After his death they examined his body and especially his heart for any clues on the cause of his situation. My brother and I have always stayed away from alcohol, smoking and drugs and we were very active in the martial art of TaeKwonDo. The tests indicated that his body and heart were absolutely clean. Being the exact genetic copy of my brother, I was thoroughly tested in the hospital for almost four hours one week later. Those tests concluded that I was in a perfect and clean condition. To this day, the doctors have no clue on the cause of his heart failure and his passing remains a quick and mysterious one...

I want to thank all for your support to us in the years we have worked and lived together— Thank you, art communities and art supporters, for bringing so much joy to me and my brother. Although we are separated physically we will always be Twincruiser in spiritual essence. In turn, let me enlighten you with the story of my hero, my brother. I have left people touched, strengthened and enlightened with the speech at the funeral and the times after. It is now my life's mission to write and spread his story and realize my brother's dream. May my brother's life inspire you like it has inspired me...

» René Koiter (of Twincruiser)

My Hero, My Brother

Allow me to illustrate a part of Michel’s life story.

Michel was, especially in his last years, heavily interested in religious, philosophical, theological, symbolical and mythological questions, themes and concepts. From a very young age he had encountered many stories…myths, legends and biblical tales to name a few. I can vividly remember how, when we were 9 years old our father gave us a ‘Greek Myths’ book. We were so inspired by these stories that we even attended a school where they taught Latin and Greek. Besides these passions, my brother was also gifted with the guitar and had the ability to create art. The latter gift is probably the one which you all most identify him with.

However there was one passion, one form of storytelling that he loved very dearly….cinema. He once said that movies are the ultimate form of art because all the other arts flow in it. In his last years, when he attended the art academy of Utrecht in the Netherlands to study illustration, he was able to learn and gather a lot of knowledge about image and storytelling. At some point this year he told me that he had ideas to tell a story in the form of a movie. But somehow he never wanted to reveal the ideas for the movie project…not even to me. “Be patient…I will tell you the complete story when we get there”, he said. “Absolutely”, was my immediate reply. My trust and faith in my brother was so strong that I followed him everywhere he went…

The last book he read to gather more knowledge for his projects was The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. Campbell tells how the ‘hero’ is born; how he lives, suffers, battles…succumbs…but in the end, still vanquishes. Campbell describes how the ‘hero’ is the foundation of the story…the center of this entire society…the one person around whom all existence revolves and by whom all of life is driven.

Michel used all of these philosophical, religious and mythological themes and concepts which he loved so much, to analyze the stories he encountered throughout his whole life. And he described and applied them…like I do now. Naturally, of course, he needed that knowledge to tell his story in his works and in his secret movie project. Now that he is physically gone I have the urge to apply these themes surrounding the ‘hero’ on the works he left behind and analyze his life with these themes…his story.

Michel literally played a hero once…in a theatre reproduction of the classic epic the Iliad. He played the Trojan hero Hector who defended his city against the charging Greek armies. I played one of the Greek warriors…Ajax. In one scene I was the one to confront the mighty Hector in single combat…I lost the battle but survived. However, Hector was killed in another confrontation and at the end the audience remembered Hector best and ultimately he was the one to claim victory.

Michel inspired and touched many who came in his path (a characteristic attribute of a leader…a hero). That is why you are all here in this place, at this exact time, at this point of existence…to honour my hero, my brother. But Michel has left pieces behind in this life and Michel has left them because he wants to send out a message to you all. Although Michel did study Illustration, he once said to me: “I am not going to be a pencil-artist when I finish my study…I see this study as a step to something very different”.

Michel applied a very smart technique to analyze concepts, themes and words from the stories he encountered. One man inspired him to do it this way…Tolkien, author of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Tolkien analyzed every word he encountered to try and find meaning. He would probably ask himself many times: “What does this word mean…how is this word related to other words?” Michel’s function in this world was that of an illustrator. So I ask myself now: “What does illustrator really mean?” This word comes from the Latin verb lustrare which literally means ‘to illuminate’. The function of the illustrator (the one who holds the light, the light-bearer) is to enlighten other people, to illuminate an existing concept in a different light, with the ultimate goal of sending out a totally transforming vision to humanity. In this light you should all start to view his works and life differently so that you are able to extract his message so you may learn, grow and evolve in your own lives.

Michel once got an illustration assignment from his education to portray ‘the illustrator’. After much search and reflection he decided to portray the illustrator as a juggler. A juggler is one who plays with and is able to keep objects in the air with balance, strength, calmness and flexibility all in one. He is a cook who manages to mix several ingredients (speech, writing, art, etc.) and prepare them into one dish (or message). He is the magician…the wizard who is such a master in his craft that he is able to combine all the elements of this universe into one massive concentration of energy. This energy he may change and manipulate at will to finally release it into existence in order to transform it.

I notice that a lot of people have trouble in approaching me. Naturally— I was the one person that was most connected to Michel and people cannot possibly realize how I am going to react to the situation. All I can tell you is: “Approach me, talk about how you saw Michel and I will be proud to talk about him because it gives me joy to see how many people are fascinated and inspired by the story of my hero, my brother.”

Of course I can’t tell you all the details, characteristics, themes and layers of this story. Michel had a certain subtlety in acting and in transmitting his messages and visions. I realize now that I have to respect this characteristic of him and apply it in my own life. But be patient…I will tell you the complete story when we get there...

Shrine of the Fallen Warrior in World of WarCraft