When in Amsterdam...Australian Artist Pip n Pop is to showcase Candy Lab in the Mediamatic space.
Mediamatic reports 'That Pip n Pop will establish the Lightness Candylab. This will investigate the blissful effects of sugar through a live production of a sugary landscape built by the Australian Pip&Pop. Come visit throughout the Sugar Week, and watch Pip&Pop build a pastel dreamscape of crystalline sugar to feast your eyes upon and dive into its wonderment. With a festive Sugar Finissage at Sunday 6th. 15:00, when the landscape reaches is final stage. '
Mediamatic is a gallery, project space, aquaponics farm and cafeteria. In December 2011 they moved part of their activities to the Van Gendthallen on Oostenburg, an island east of the city center. In June 2013 they moved the rest of their programming and people to this location, a flexible space where thet can experiment with new ways of building, growing and programming. Mediamatic organize exhibitions, workshops, lectures, dinners and other events. The Pip n Pop are at Mediamatic 1-6 July 2014.13:00 Mediamatic Fabriek, VOC–kade 10, 1018 LG Amsterdam
When in Amsterdam...visit local artists. This blog highlights one of our favourites Carl van Hees. He recently opened his new studio in the historic centre of Amsterdam on the picturesque Groenburgwal. Carl specialises in fused glass.
Fused Glass Vessel by Carl van Hees
Carl van Hees graduated from Amsterdam's illustrious Rietveld Acadamy of Art. After studing fashion and illustration he turned his attention to fused glass. He was the assistent to one of the most famous Dutch glass artists Toots Zynsky. Since those days he has been shown in expositions all over Europe and North America.
Glass Fusion Vessels by Carl van Hees
He uses the merging technique. Italian glass is heated, seperated and ground. The granules are mixed and built up in layers. Carl molds the glass to his liking. The result is a fascinating piece, shiny while granular and very tempting to touch. Our photos do not give justice to his work.
Carl van Hees: small fused glass vessels
You can see his work presently in Amsterdam two ways. Carl van Hees is part of the 25th Anniversary Exposition of the famous contemporary glass gallery in Amsterdam, Braggiotti Gallery. This exhibition runs until 9 November 2013. Otherwise, Carl's work can be viewed by appointment at his studio and gallery on Groenburgwal, in Amsterdam's old city centre. Details can be found at his website...here.
Studio
New Amsterdam Groenburgwal Gallery from Carl van Hess
When in Amsterdam...visit local artists. Each year Amsterdam Artists of the Nieuwmarkt neighborhood open their doors to show their new creations and workspace.
Open Ateliers Nieuwmarkt 2013 - art by Carl van Hees
(photo: Omy Amsterdam Tours)
64 artists participated this year in an event that has run for 38 years. In an area of Amsterdam famous internationally for Rembrandt, this event 'Open Ateliers Nieuwmarkt' remembers Amsterdam as a city of culture and locals.
The event began with the neighborhood riots of 1975. Government planned 'modernizing' the Nieuwmarkt area, introducting large roads and transport links. This would have resulted in the destruction of buildings and the local community. Many buildings were torn down and the metro link constructed but not the highway that was planned. Blue Monday in March 1975 on the Nieuwmarkt was part of a 20 year campaign by Amsterdam locals to keep the city liveable.
Artists stood with residents on the neighborhood's protest barricades. The protest's aim was for Amsterdam to be a liveable city. A city dominated by community and people not roads and cars. Through opening their doors the area's artists showed their commitment to their neighborhood.
Over the years artists have moved in an out of the neighborhood. However, each year in Autumn they open their doors to renew their commitment to this neighborhood and show their creations of beauty.
For more on Nieuwmarkt Artists visit the following link. For visitors to Amsterdam interested in viewing their work contact the organization or the artist directly and maybe they will open their doors especially for you.
We profile a few artists in the next few blogs but below is a youtube clip of the artists and their work.
When in Amsterdam....the Red Light District hosts an Art Fair once a year. AIR (Art in the Red Light) is now in its 8th year. Contemporary Art, Photography and Jewelry go on display in the Old Church of Amsterdam.
AIR has been at the forefront to diversify Amsterdam's notorious Red Light District. The exhibition is displayed in the Gothic church in the middle of the district. This year the exhibition extends to the windows of the Church's outbuildings.
Installation by Jompet Kuswidanato
59 local and international Artists are on display. Local artists include product designer Marjan van Aubel, landscape photographer and Amsterdam resident Wouter van Buuren and jeweler to the celebrities Otazu. International guests include acclaimed Indonesian visual artist Jompet Kuswidanato, Icelander and instillation artist Thorvaldur Thorsteinsson, and video, performance London artist Alexis Milne winner of the Start Point Prize.
In addition that all the art pieces are for sale each Artist provides a piece for auction. This auction is held towards the end of the exhibition. Part of the proceeds go to charity. AIR is supports Orange Babies, an organization that assist those suffering AIDS in Africa.
The AIR exhibition runs 20 -23 September at the Old Church in Amsterdam.
The exhibition is free with admission. Those with an IAmsterdam Card or a Museum Card entrance is free.
When in Amsterdam... visit William Kentridge's "Black Box". The Amsterdam's Jewish Historical Museum has on display the 'Black Box/Chambre Noire' (2005) and pieces associated with the making of this moving piece of art until 25 November 2012.
The wonderful piece is expressionist in style in that form alludes to content and vise versa. The medium is multi-media, music, charcoal, theater and puppets.
To understand this art one must be aware of the history of European colonial powers and of Africa's southern region. Black Box tells the story of the Genocide of the Herero and Nama people from 1904 to 1907 in today's Namibia.
Formally, known as German South West Africa the genocide resulted in over 100 000 people murdered. 75% of the Herero and Nama people were killed and the remainder were placed in concentration camps to work as slave labor.
This genocide has been recognised by the United Nations and the German Republic. To remember the 100 year anniversary Kentridge was commissioned by Deutsche Bank which resulted in the mechanical theatre 'Black Box'.
Kentridge is a South African artist of Jewish heritage. He uses the country's and region's history to socially connect his work to the audience. Kentridge has won numerous artistic awards including the 2009 Association of Art Critics Award. His background in theater and opera is evident in 'Black Box'.
Black Box is a puppet stage. Mechanical puppets move to a backdrop of art that has been created from charcoal and material that Kentridge gathered during research. Kentridge uses the backdrop of Mozart's Magic Flute as a structure but unlike the Magic Flute is not set in 1791 but 1904. The theme of the Magic Flute, the struggle between benevolence and authority, is evident.
Benevolence in 'Black Box' is colonialism and the brotherhood of humankind that European enlightenment developed. The enlightenment is still celebrated today and lays the foundations of western universities. Black Box reminds us that this knowledge developed to a back drop of violence, discrimination and extortion.
Black Box is a piece that can transcend time. The example of the Herero Genocide can be replaced by the Dutch in Indonesia, the English in Kenya or today's killings in the name of state sovereignty.
For those that question the meaning of modern art Black Box connects you socially through history. The piece is emotional, morals are questioned and beauty realised. Well worth the Admission Price.
Jewish Historical Museum (JHM) in Amsterdam exhibits William Kentridge's work from 16 July until 25 November 2012. The JHM is also teaming up with the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam to organise an events programme
When in Amsterdam...once a year Nuit Blanche takes place. If you love instillation art, darkness, photography and street art this festival is for you. This year is the third edition of Nuit Blanche in Amsterdam. The festival runs from 7pm-7am and ensures a great night for all. The event was founded 10 years ago in Paris and is now worldwide.
The event is always held in weird, wonderful and sometimes hidden locations throughout Amsterdam. This year there are locations in old shipping warehouses, an old prostitution window, and tattoo parlor to name a few. Be sure to check out local Amsterdam artists Ben de Boef and Sjoco Sjon. Also the art space transformed into a modern Agora with different artisan street food stands. When In Amsterdam favorites are always the instillation art but we will see what this year brings.
Installation art titled: Artificial Happiness
Saturday, June 16, 2012
19.00 - 07.00 hours
Admission: Passe partout ticket € 17.50
/ € 15.00 Passe partout CJP members
When in Amsterdam...there is plenty of art even a flying cat. After 5 years absence the KunstRai returned to Amsterdam's premiere convention center RAI. The art fair specializes in modern art. This year 70 artists exhibited their work from 31 May to 3 June.
This year the most eye catching art was the cat helicopter. Dutch Artist Bart Jansen showed his 'Orvillecopter'. Bart had a cat Orville. Orville was hit by a car and died. Bart observed a period of mourning and then teamed up with a friend, Arjen Beltman. Arjen has a passion for flying helicopters. The collaboration resulted in Orville, now taxidermy cat with propellers attached to each of his paws.
Bart Jansen is an artist who does installations and 'meaningless machines'. His only criteria is that the art 'works'. The Cat Copter has attracted a range of response some see it as disturbing others as inventive. Jansen in a statement said that Orville loved chasing birds now the dream is realised after life 'to fly with the birds'
When in Amsterdam…visit
the Jewish Historical Museum. The museum recently unveiled the first exhibition
of Else Berg and Mommie Schwarz. The Avant-garde husband and wife painters were
representative of the Dutch modern art scene 1900-1913. They lived in Amsterdam and the
Netherlands from 1910 – 1942.
Else Berg Self Portrait 1917
Mommie Schwarz Self Portrait 1917
The exhibition, the first
of its kind, explores the lives of the two artists through their paintings. The paintings show Berg and Schwarz influence
and subjects changing through their paintings during their lives together.The couple met in Berlin
in 1908, travelling to Paris before becoming part of the Amsterdam and Bergen
art scenes. The Bergen School was a Dutch school of expressionist painters who
used cubism with characteristic dark colours.
In their early art 1900-1913
their paintings were characteristic of this expressionist style with colour and
intense hues.
Woman in Red Pinafore- Berg 1913
In 1914 the pair took a trip
to Majorca, Spain where their style changed again. Landscapes became composed
of entire impressionist colour segments.
Majorca - Else Berg 1914
From 1922-1931 the couple
travelled together and apart throughout Europe. They visited Belgium, Czech,
Yugoslavia, France and Italy. Berg painted more magical themes while Schwarz
depicted more formal issues with his paintings developing strong structure with
dark colours, influenced by the Bergen School.
Sardine Fishers - Schwarz 1923
From 1931-1940 Schwarz
liked to paint harbour views and fishermen. Berg moved to a style more akin of
the populist realist movement of the day with images of ‘people and environment’.
Belagebrug - Schwarz 1936
As Amsterdam became
occupied by the Nazi-Germans the couple sent many of their paintings to
friends. They returned to Amsterdam in 1942 for an unknown reason and continued
painting. Schwarz would paint the view of Sephati Park from their studio
window. Painting in dark colours depicting the mood of the time. Berg on the
other hand painted children playing care free in the park.
On November 1942 the
couple were captured and sent to Westerbork and then onto the infamous Auschwitz
concentration camp where they were murdered on their arrival.
The exhibition runs March 23 until June 24. It is a beautiful life story of two artists who shared a passion for each other and for painting.
