Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #50

When the s*** hits the fan...it goes all over the place. A rather crude axiom, but it goes directly to the point of the current affairs on the Dutch cultural scene. The government of Mark the Shark, with "comic" relief from Pretty Boy Geert, wants to isolate the Netherlands from the world community one way or another.

A recent headline in the Dutch media read, "The Netherlands is 'declining in importance.' Agnes van Ardenne said, 'Now we have a major party which wants to close borders because our land is full...we are no longer a leading nation.'" And this border closure will be accomplished in different ways. 

The subsidy cuts for institutions---like museums---will mean less international shows in both the country and other countries. The cuts and/or complete elimination of subsidies to the Rijksakademie, De Ateliers, NIMk, STEIM, de Appel, et al means fewer foreign artists will be studying and interacting within the Dutch society and its cultural scene. These institutions will try to compensate by increasing tuition charges, but that will only limit the number of people that will be attracted to study here. 

And the philistines, who now rule the roost, promising the American Dream for Holland---overlooking the fact that that dream has turned into a nightmare---have chosen to give a double whammy to Dutch culture. Not content to take 200 million euros from the cultural coffers---the price of one F16 with spare parts---they have strapped the art market place with a three fold increase in taxes. If you want to see a dance performance or a play, the added BTW is now 19%; a painting, drawing or print is now also taxed at 19% instead of 6%. But, hey, you like football? You still pay only 6% BTW. Well, sure', these demagogues must pander to the majority of voters. 

And it gets even more sadistic in more subtle ways. If you work with your hands like a hair cutter, the BTW will remain at 6%. So the sculptors said "We, too, are exempt from the increase to 19%." "No way!" said Mark the Shark. "You work with your hands to make ART! Art is art...and that's 19%." Must be something in the semantics that 3D is missing. 

Several institutions are sponsoring petitions and/or demonstrations. There are discussions at several venues in the country. The cultural war is on and the "weapon" of choice is your vote. 3D predicted, with the formation of this new "government," that it wouldn't last a year. The times nearly up, but there are signs that it may still have to call for a vote of confidence sooner than later. Bring it on! 
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The 2010-2011 Amsterdam Art Season draws to a close. It started stronger than expected as far as sales were concerned, but came to an abrupt halt at the beginning of 2011. What happened? Well, that's harder to define or pin-point. The Dutch economy continues to improve and unemployment is only 4%. That leaves only one thing: the 19% BTW dilemma. The government decided that the art market should pay more than its fair share of the country's deficit. Figures. The population has elected a government riddled with Philistines looking for a silver lining in the economic storm clouds. And what they found was too much money being lavished on the cultural world---especially the art segment---and it was creating a stormy economic climate. Remedy: Cut subsidies. And the silver lining? Hey, people who can afford to pay 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and more for a work of art can afford to pay an additional 19% tax/BTW. Simple logic! they say. So what happens? The art market crashes. Those who supported the market by buying items for 300, 500 or a 1,000 euros balked at paying an additional 13% that was the increase from the previous 6%. And while sales to the higher market buyers may or may not have been affected---there were a few shows with several red dots with prices of 10,000 euro and up---the overall market was lost. Over the season, galleries closed and those that remained made cut backs where ever it was possible: fewer shows and less ambiance associated with their openings. Hey, life is hard! For an artist it's just a little more hard. 

(Footnote: There was a book presentation for Max Snow at Serieuze Zaken Studioos on the 2nd of July. 3D is thrilled to report that there were 16 red dots. Hey, that's more like it. Let's hope that this can carry over to "come September.") 

BITS & PIECES:

The best show of the year begins today, 7th July. The Rietveld Einde Examen. You can see it everyday up to and including Sunday, the 10th of July. Don't miss this opportunity to see the future of art today. Remember, in art the young are expected to be the rebels pressing for revolutionary changes in the way we see the concept of ART. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes not. Go see for yourself if this is a momentous year in the history of art...And it's FREE!!!
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Learn more about art. PAN Amsterdam will begin, on 10th June, a weekly art lesson @ http://www.pan.nl/. In 200 words and a picture you will learn "What's Modern Realism?" "What's a fair price?" "Can I haggle?" and more. You can also follow the lesson on FACEBOOK and Twitter.
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The new government, in Holland, seems to be out of sync on other matters besides the cultural aspects. 3D recalls a conference that was held in Europe around 1974 on drugs and the emphasis, at the time, was on marijuana. The USofA suggested that a "small country" try legalizing soft drugs so that the effects could be measured as to the influence on its society. It was the Netherlands that stepped forward and said, "We'll try." Now we have PMs wanting to reverse that policy and ignoring the mayors of virtually all the major cities who are opposed. Must reading for them is a recent article titled "Legalization should replace failed drug war, group says." (www.iht.com, 3rd June). "A high-level international committee declared...that the global 'war on drugs' was a failure and urged countries to consider legalizing marijuana and other drugs to undermine organized crime and protect their citizens' health...The study urges experimentation by government with models of legal regulation of drugs. This recommendation applies especially to cannabis...but we also encourage other experiments in decriminalization and legal regulation.'" 
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A behind the scenes look at how European museums deal "with the practices and issues that the conservator of modern and contemporary art deal with. The documentary was put together with a group of experts from 35 European museums." You can see it FREE and on line at: www.nimk.nl/eng/installation-art-who-cares-documentary
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BERLINER LISTE, Berlin's largest art fair, has announced a last call for applications. More than 100 international galleries, from 23 countries, will show between 7th and 11th of September. More info at: https://bit.ly/2NdaKZc 
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Sotheby's has announced that they will discontinue their auction house activities in the Netherlands.
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Laser 3.14 says "We Are The Dream They Want To Exclude." At StadsArchiefs (Vijzelstraat 32). 
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What's Happening: 

Two Ukrainian artists are hanging an exhibition at WG Kunst. Alexandr Shimbarovsky does photography that combines several techniques. In fact, the descriptive tags alongside the works describe them thusly: "author's technique." As a result, sometimes the finished product doesn't seem to have much to do with photography. Some works are on "sculpted" steel placer and MDF. He does a trip-tych, but in a very different way. One consists of a large circle and two ovals. While the work is representational, it often tends to be visually a geometric abstraction. Expect strong colors. (80x60 cms., photo print ! 100 euro; 100x62 cms., author's technique @ 700 euro; 5 pieces as one: 100, 75, 50, 30 and 15 cms in diameter, Di-bond, photograph print, "curly trim" @ 700 euro.) 

Vadum Shamanov is a painter and uses various materials including steel. With the latter, brushed steel is sometimes part of the composition. And his style is best described as abstract/expressionism often with a strong geometric bent. (50x35 cms., oil on canvas @ 300 euro; 63x102 cms., oil on steel, MDF @ 900 euro; 140x190 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,500 euro.) Consider the prices as cheap! Until 10th June. https://bit.ly/2v9vxoX;       https://bit.ly/2o3zJn2 
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At De Brakke Grond (Nes 45) there is a group show of 13 photographic artist titled "(Re):TILT." Expect to see portraits, architectural work and shots that resemble that of weekend snapshots by an amateur. In the court yard, there are oversize photos. An interesting montage/collage by Jasper de Meester measures 250 by 120 cms., and is done in such a way that it becomes an abstraction. Until 17th July. https://bit.ly/1Th5K2k 
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Four artists show at RudolfV (Kerkstraat 427) with a very pleasing mix of work. Michael Lasoff is a figurative expressionist with very good color sense and definition. The composition are both unusual and imaginative; you can see a favorable Francis Bacon influence here and there. A four meter long trip-tych has geometric abstraction elements to go with the figurative. (2,200 to 8,000 euro.)...To describe Jan Verschueren's objects it is helpful to say: Think Jean Tinguely; and with a real sense of humor. Here is an example. One piece has a man formed from scraps of iron and with a clay head and hands, sitting at a 50s model Royal typewriter. The lid that you open, to get to the ribbon, is askewed and at one end is propped open with a stick. The illusion is a man playing a grand piano. There is also a tightrope walker navigating a steel cable stretched between the rims of an iron wheel. Then there is the milk can...but, hey, go see for yourself. He also hangs "paintings." His description, not 3D's. What they really are are mixed-media works made from several elements ranging from junk to sea shells with a dab of paint from time to time. (750 to 1,750 euro.)

Rogier Alleblas work is photography and each "image" is in an edition. But, each edition of five is made up of five unique pieces. Huh? Well, what he does is to create conceptual scenes and poses using tables and chairs with a man added. He snaps that, develops it his way; then, paints on the print. Generally, he paints the pictured object as resting in the water. There are also small photos that are more simple, but he takes full advantage of an objects shape and/or configuration, Damn, didn't jot down the prices...Marly Freij is a contemporary impressionist that works with a range from soft colors to those that are vibrant. The subject matter is landscapes, but that is completely irrelevant. What is important is the dominance of the composition. Good work. (1,176 to 2,520 euro.) Until 9th July. https://bit.ly/2mdb7ay 
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RADAR (Rozengracht 77) hangs the work of "Nisja" (Poland) who paints architectural city scape's but with an emphasis on geometric abstraction as the focal point. But it is how she achieves it that makes her work interesting. There is a naïve quality to the compositions that come through in her view of the perspective and sometimes the colors. The result is an unique interpretation to the contemporary urban landscape environment. Nice. (40x80 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 850 euro; 70x140 cms., acrylic and markers on canvas @ 1,900 euro.) 

Showing, too, is "Ozymantra" who has reincarnated the German Expressionist of the 20s and 30s and placed them into a contemporary context and added a conceptualised view to it all. If you can follow all that, you will come close to understanding what to expect. Sometimes there is a grotesque quality to the imagery but its chaotic nature of composition almost cancels it out. What you are left with is a mysterious aftertaste. (18x24 cms., mixed-media @ 160 euro; 30x50 cms., oil on canvas @ 750 euro; 130x135 cms., oil on canvas @ 2,300 euro.) ...Nearly forgot...check out the floor; both artists contributed to its making. Thick and durable paper was taped on the floor, wall to wall, and then they got down on their hands and knees and went to work. Cool! Until 2nd July. https://bit.ly/2AmjWZr 
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Drawings are popping up everywhere. There were several galleries at ArtAmsterdam showing them and now AdK (Prinsengracht 534) shows the work of two. Dineke Blom does drawings that are conceptual and sometimes heavy on geometric abstraction. In this exhibition, she has a series that look like lengths of weaved hair, think "pigtails." And much of her work has a raw quality to it; that is the composition hasn't be sterilized. Charcoal residue or smear marks are left to accent the composition. (32x24 cms., ink on paper @ 1,500 euro; 63x95.5 pencil and gouache on paper @ 2,400 euro. 

Along with her is the work of Hans Ebeling Koning with representational drawings with some in a geometric abstract style. Others reflect impressionism. The subject matter ranges from flowers to wooded area to architectural scenes. Four red dots. (24x30 cms., drawing mixed media @ 200 euro; 52x42 cms., ink and white paint @ 1,300 euro.) Until 25th June. https://bit.ly/2LRt0qC 
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"New Jewelry" is a term that is meant to make you forget that all that glitters are not just diamonds and gold. And the best part is so often it is a style that is completely different from anything your have seen before. Hey, that's what art is all about! Xavier Monclús (Spain) makes whimsical scenes. You could think that you were looking at a miniature stage design for a childrens' play. But that doesn't begin to describe these modern tableaus that reflect the urban scene to a banal dinner place setting...Well, that's doesn't saying anything. It is hard to do justice to this man's work and imagination with words...Oh, yeah. There are worn as brooches. (400 to 1,600 euro; some in editions and others are unique.)

Evert Nijland has a rather eclectic selection of "subject matter" for his jewelry. One necklace resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus and is made of glass. Another is a collection of conceptual forms and still another is a series of porcelain eggs---all severely cracked--- and exposing what looks like an inner chocolate egg. Then there are seven porcelain brooches which look like artifacts from an archeology dig. Most feature a small flower. Nice. Three red dots. (Brooches 300 to 425 euro; Necklaces 3,200 to 3,500 euro.) Until 2nd July. www.galerierobkoudijs.nl
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"smith-vissers GALERIE" (Noorderdwarstraat 7) is a gallery new to the art scene but, from the show the 3D saw recently, it should have a good future. Kuin Heuff style is unusual and is directly influenced by the 19th century b/w cut-outs that were so popular. In those, the "portraits" were generally only profiles. Heuff does full face portraits. They are in meticulous detail. Amazingly he captures the nuances of depth around the eyes, nose and mouth. The eyes are espeically well done. (30x35 ms., acrylic cut out from paper @ 750 euro; 200x140 cms., acrylic cut out from paper @ 8,400 euro.) 

Showing to is Marie Christine Berk who "weaves" string-like clay strips into 3D objects. They resemble fine porcelain baskets that look like lace dollies. There are a variety of configurations; some look like onion sacks and others like weaved baskets. (875 to 1,750 euro.) https://bit.ly/2OVDLt0 
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Two Middle-East artists are showing at SM Bureau Amsterdam (Rozenstraat 59). Al Solh (Lebanon) has studied both in Amsterdam and her home country. She mixes into her art both autobiographical aspects as well as humor. She is showing various video works. Bassam Ramlawi also studied art here, but back home,in Lebanon, he is a juice seller which probably is proof positive that you can get more juice from an orange than juice---read money---from a canvas. He is an admirer of René Daniëls and his work emulates the artist. Several works of Daniëls, from 1980-1985, are on show. Until 31st July. https://bit.ly/1uSN1xM 
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Leo Kogan has organized a group exhibition that is conveniently located in the center of the city at Amstel 16, just off the Muntplein. His raison d étré is "The real purpose of Art is not to embellish nor to entertain but to revel the truth." Okay, you can determine for yourself if these works in the medium of photography, mixed-media, drawings, paintings, prints, etc do that. Some of the artists are making their European debut. WARNING: The space is an unintentional work of art that resembles one of Matta Clark's cut-away building sections. Watch your step! The prices range from 25 to 2,000 euro. Something for every one's pocket book. Until 31st August; 13-18:00; Friday through Sunday. 
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Norbert Prangenberg (German) is at Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140) in a show titled "Kiss the beast." His work ranges in style from representational expressionism to pure expressionism. Some works are very colorful and others come close to being monochromatic but in an unusual way. Other works mix the two styles. (30x21 cms., oil on wood @ 4,500 euro; 50x40 cms., oil on board @ 5,800 euro.) 

In the big gallery you will see the work of Björn Dahlem (German) who has been inspired by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) who tried to describe the universe and is one of the fathers of Classical Physics. One of the tools that both Kepler and Galileo used was mathematics. Math allowed them to see the geometric abstraction that gives "life" its form. Dahlem adds nuances to the abstraction which are more often than not representational objects: buttons, bottles and even a compass and a statue of Venus. Light is sometimes an illuminating factor. Pun intended. (50x20x170 cms., wood, steal, Styrofoam, lacquer @ 8,000 euro; 80x175x60 cms., mixed media @ 18,000 euro.) Until 31st July. https://bit.ly/2LZAAPK 
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Joyce van Dongen is back once again at "GALERIE bart" (Bloemgracht 2). She continues to evolve her artistic style; and she does so by extending her technique range that now includes embroidery and the use of a palette knife. The work is representational but more so as an after thought than it is intentional. In some of these paintings there is always the illusion of vegetation, but sometimes that description doesn't hold up to close scrutiny. Doesn't matter! Whether you are looking at reeds, weeds or whatever, you will see strong, assertive and confident brush strokes. There is added tension with her use of embroidery to extend the imagery to another dimension and by her use of thick monochromatic white paint against the detailed brush work. (65x50 cms., oil, embroidery and gloss on canvas @ 1,380 euro; 140x200 cms., oil and embroidery on canvas @ 4,250 euro.) Until 30th July. https://bit.ly/2m4yS4n 
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Olphaert den Otter at "witzenhausen GALLERY" (Hazenstraat 60) is a very good painter. He has mastered the brush! As to the imagery it is almost secondary. It really is not much more than a stage for him to act out his compositions. A series of 24 A4 sketches illustrate disasters ranging from tsunami, fires, mud slides and a couple that chronicle the Concorde disaster. (18x26 cms., egg tempera on paper @ 900 euro; 76x122 cms., egg tempera on canvas laid on panel @ 5,940 euro.) Until 30th July. No website address on invite. 
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"The Road to Rabat: A Journey in Pictures by Dennis Duijnhouwer" is the title of the exhibition at Brandt (Prinsengracht 799). Now showing at Amsterdam' cinemas is "The Road to Rabat." Duijnjhouwer went along for the filming in Morocco. And what he came back with fits nicely with a new style of photography that is taking hold. call it "Snaps" for want of a better term. He is hanging what could be a collection of photos taken by a tourist on their holiday. You will see a picture of a woman sitting in a car; a junk yard; a woman holding an umbrella in the noon day sun; a garish painting hanging on a red wall... That sort of thing. Of course, what makes these Snaps standout is the artist's understanding of how a good camera works and a natural feel for composition. (Each photo comes in three sizes: 30x45 cms., @ 310 euro; 40x60 cms., @ 390 euro; 69x90 cms., @ 560 euro. Each is in an edition of 10.) Until 24th July. www.dennisduijnhouwer.com , http://brandtgallery.com/ 
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"huis marseille: museum voor fotografie" is hanging a retrospective for Adam Fuss showing work from 1986 to 2010. What does a photographer do with an over exposed print? Frame it, of course, And not just one time, but five; and he has a series. And that's what you will see at the very beginning of the exhibit. His series of "photograms" or "water photographs" is a mysterious-like representation of something all around us, all the time, and something we never really notice. The "Ghost" series is mesmerizing. Obviously the technique is reminiscent of Man Ray's "Ray-a-tone" photos but Fuss goes further and with amazing results. Nearly everything is in b/w, but in one gallery there are six examples from his oeuvre in color. Until 4th September. https://www.huismarseille.nl/ 
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Well, what can you say about this show for "Carolus" at TORCH (Lauriergracht 94)? 3D's first thought was that he is a naïve artist. But while some works reflect that style and technique others are more defined. There is a series that could be described as a contemporary rendering of Oriental erotic art. (55x71.5 cms., pen on paper @ 250 euro; 60x100 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,000 euro; 120x95 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,800 euro.) Until 9th July. https://bit.ly/2L7qYSK 
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Eduard Planting Fine Art Photography shows Hans Withoos who composes scenes that range from the banal---a man in shadow sitting at a piano with the Royal Albert Hall outside his opened window---to the bizaare---a pretty lady in a frilly costume posed next to a tomb at Pere Lachaise, Paris. But that's just half of it. It appears that he is content to show these composition---all night scenes---with ambient light. So what you get is color photography heavy on b/w contrast which cast an eerie feel to the imagery. Nice! (66.5x105 cms., 
Cibachrome print on dibond with epoxy. Ed. 12, signed @ 2,250 euro.) Until 30th July. https://bit.ly/2lZLxFJ
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At "VERVERS modern and contemporary art gallery" there is a group show of five artists. Clementine Oomes does mixed-media on paper. The style is conceptual with illusions to the representational. But that's not really important. What is is that each piece is truly unique and speaks for itself. (25x35 cms., ink, glue and transparent paper @ 300 euro; 250x155 cms., drawing on paper @ 2,500 euro.) ...Jan Enno de Jong work is primarily mixed-media with emphasis on charcoal and pencil. The style is pure conceptualism and sometimes with a hint of representationalism. Again, unique work. (13x15.5 cms., acrylic, pencil @ 353 euro; 120x160 acrylic, charcoal, chalk on linen @ 2,605 euro.) ...Corinne Kruger shows her series of female portraits which have a sense of reality but in a pleasing way. (30x30 cms., Ed. 7 @ 550 euro...Dominik Borkowski and Yves Beaumont both paint with oil on canvas and both tend towards the minimal. Until 16th July. https://bit.ly/2mkqkqc 
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Ger Doornink is exhibiting his very unusual portrait works at Morren Galleries (Prinsengacht 572). The portraits are very stylized, but the subject is secondary to both the style and technique. The "face" is the focal point but it is squeezed between expressionistic and organic color flows. The imagery projects itself from the surface of the canvas as if it was in three dimensions. There is also a classical influence. See if you can find the Johannes Vermeer inspiration. (250x150 cms., mixed- media @ 5,800 euro.) 

Also showing is the sculptor work of Judith Wiersema who is inspired by human anatomy but expresses it conceptually. She does shoes with elegance. One piece is a foot wearing a high healed stiletto shoe and enclosed almost in Lucite-like material. Also expect to see legs in a variety of shapes and forms but none of them will bore you. Elegant work. (20 cms., high bronze @ 2,250 euro; 50 cms., high black bronze @ 16,500 euro.) Until 24th July. https://www.morrengalleries.nl/ 
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TEN HAAF PROJECTS (Laurierstraat 248) presents four artists under the collective title, "Young and Restless." Unfortunately, there are no names tags to go with the works on display. Makes it difficult to single out anyone; 3D did find a book that identified the works and artists. But what you can expect to see are two over sized canvases with very bizarre imagery; think skeletons working to control the movement of lines of color. The work is by Luka Kurashvili (Georgia). There is also examples of contemporary tapestries by Sebastian Weggler (German). It is difficult to tell if they are dyed or weaved; according to the press release they are made of felt. Photography is represented by a duo, André Giesemann and Daniel Schulz. They visited the dance sites after the crowd has gone home. Each photo conveys a sense of melancholoy. Until 16th July. https://bit.ly/2ux13gg 
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At "Gallery nine" (|Keizersgracht 552) is the work of Frans Vendel who is a conceptual minimalist. None of the paintings on exhibition have more than one color in addition to the white canvas. Using one color he cleverly divides the surface area into geometric patterns. The eye sometimes sees more than is actually present in the "imagery." Its only an illusion. But also monumental and quietly assertive. 

Also showing is the sculpture work of Don Satijn who prefers to describe his work as "objects." The objects are made of steel and in a simple square form. The minimalism and simplicity of the designs is reminiscent of Donald Judd. Most pieces measure 10x10x10 cms. Within that diminutive perimeter is a complex linear construction. The result is both monumental and elegant. Until 9th July. https://bit.ly/2PvNdUQ 
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The design hotel ARTEMIS (John M. Keynesplein 2) latest show is around the subject of Nature. Studio Erwin Zwiers creates "Twisted Lights" which are hanging overhead like chandeliers made of warped strips of wood layered in concentric circles. The resulting shapes range from conventional to the conceptual. And, hey, here is something that every home needs: an interactive table. Sure we use them for traditional purposes to eat at or work on, but this is the avant garde world of design. Atop the table is modeling clay. You can make the table anything you want in to be and, at the opening, several children---and a few that were well aged "children"---were doing just that. Fun idea and it could be used for therapy. (Lamps: small @ 1,390; medium @ 1,685; large @ 2,580 euro; Table @ 3,700 euro.)...Tired of the traditional sofa? Try this one by Studio Danckmer it allows you to stretch out comfortably no matter your size. It is designed to be beach furniture and "is composed of large long objects inspired by sand dunes." (1,125 to 1,900 euro.)...When 3D was a young boy my mother would collect rainwater. I think she used it to do the laundry. She used a large laundry bucket for the collection process. Too bad Studio Bas van der Veer wasn't around. "Pure Raindrop" is the contemporary "rain bucket." In today's world its most practical purpose would be as a design focal point. It stands about four meters high and is streamlined with a practical addition for collecting and "harvesting" the rain water. (199 euro.)..."Phing Thing" by Gert-Jan Vlaming is an ET or a Gremlin or whatever you want to make of it. For the price of 10 euro, 3D couldn't resist buying one if only to ponder its reason for being. Oh, yeah, if you want a small army you can buy 10 for 85 euro...Thomas Pleeging presents "Mould." "Can products be grown too? 'Mould,' meaning both a fungus and a framework to make an object...mycelium is mixed with cotton fibers and placed in a mould where it starts to grow..." Well, you get the idea. The result is an attractive vase which is multi-purpose. But see for yourself. (450 euro.)...Martin Vlaming is a painter with a style that is basically expressionistic, but not aggressively so. It is, in fact, sort of laid back and gentle on the eyes. There is an organic element in some works. You perceive more than see living things...And there is more... Until 7th September. https://bit.ly/2BGBNFK 
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At "outLINE" (Oetewalerstraat 73) is an installation by Mischa Rakier in which she has taken the interior space and turned it into a reflection of our reality. That is, you will walk into the room and the walls and ceiling are covered with mirror like imagery. I say mirror-like because the "mirrors" are not of glass but made from reflective material which distorts the images. The result of this is like a surrealistic paintings but with you being part of it and the experience of it. It's sort of like stepping into a Dali paintings. Cool!. Until 4th September.
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Your first thought when you look at one of Vincent Rijs photographs, at MLB (Witte de Withstraat 32) is to ask "What is it?" By the time you've looked at three or four you stop asking the question. The subject matter is irrelevant. What his photography is is a study of contrast in glorious b/w. Of course not being able to distinguish the subject matter creates mystery and that's what it is all about. (19.5x26.5 @ 200 euro + BTW.) 
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C&H Art Space (2e Kostverlorenkade 50) is presenting a summer show with four artists. Wouter Klein Velderman makes objects as "tapestries." But instead of just material he adds plastic and metal. Each piece is on a large metal frame the size of a double mattress. He then stretches fabric---enclosed in clear plastic---on it. The resulting piece projects about 40 cms., from the wall (203x149x42 cms., PVC, wood, synthetic silk, suspenders, book binders glue @ 5,400 euro)..."Lil'Shy" also does tapestry like work but closer to the traditional form. She cuts out highly stylized felt letters and stitches them to a cotton background. Each letter has its own color. (80x90 cms., hand-stitched felt on cotton @ 800 euro; 135x184 cms., hand stitched on cotton @ 2,250 euro.) 

Arnold Helbling works on both fabric and Mylar using acrylic paint. The style is geometric abstraction/expressionism with very pleasing colors. The result is not only unique imagery, but imagery with a deep mystery and beautifully so. (46x61 cms., acrylic on Mylar @ 2,000 euro; 92x71 cms., acrylic on fabric @ 5,400 euro.)...Emily Kocken does b/w conceptual photography which combines elements of motion photography. (99x99 cms., Ed. 3 @ 1,600 incl frame.) 
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Shintaro Miyake (Japan) is at Galerie Gabriel Rolt (Elandsgracht 34) is a conceptual cartoonist who identifies himself to be part of the Japan's New Pop Art movement. On view are over sized drawings broken into sections, often many sections and in different shapes. The imagery looks like children's drawings of different types of dinosaurs. He also includes typography in the work in which a sentence is composed of a series of letters without any interruption and sometimes the letters are so highly stylized that it is impossible to read the text. But, hey, it doesn't matter. It looks great! An object looking a lot like Humpty Dumpty sits in a high backed chair with a smile on its face. Must have been done before his fall. In the back there is a series of objects and each in the shape of a letter that spell out the word "CALM" but if you wish---and with a little bit of effort---it could also spell "CLAM." And, that folks is the title of the show "CALM/CLAM." ("CALM, letters, 170x137x50; 156x75x33; 160x100x48; 172x199x52 @ ?;158x358 cms., acrylic, color pencil and pencil on paper...There was NO price list.) Until 6th August.) https://bit.ly/2nFBTck 
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The winner of the 2009 Dutch Royal Prize for Painting, Esiri Erherience-Essi (UK) is at RON MANDOS (Prinsengracht 282) with her oversize works. She is a figurative/expressionist with strong emphasis on both styles. The vibrant colors that form imagery which looks like people in a 3D movie without the glasses. The range of colors makes a rainbow look gray. Some of the works feature elements of typography, in fact, one is all type face print and tells a very short love story. The subject matter ranges from "Dorthy" of "The Wizard of Oz" fame to Liz Taylor in "Giant." There is one negative factor with this show and that is that the gallery----though large---is too small for the works. They definitely need to be in a large office lobby space to be truly appreciated. (40x50 cmsn., oil on canvas @ 1,800; 135x170 cms., oil on canvas @ 6,100 euro; 250x200 cma., oil on canvas @ 9,000 euro.) Until 8th August. https://bit.ly/1NONWvU 
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A small group show of three artists make up the bill at Art A Casa (Kerkstraat 411). Koos ten Kate paints people and in a way that would appeal to children. But his compositions are sometime unusual. There is always a joyous element. (5x5 cms., @ 75 euro; 60 cms diameter oval @ 1,560 euro.) Three red dots; one green...Joanna Winik paints young girls and young women but with whimsical nuances. As in example, in one work there are three portraits and each subject is wearing a cake or tart as a hat. Kid you not. But there is both tenderness and classical references. Her drawings have conceptual aspects. (800 to 1,200 euro.)...Tourette van Meurs-Oxenaar shows both drawings and oils. One drawing has a person with the body of a Faberge-like egg. His oils have almost a surreal edge while maintaining strong realism factors. But, again, as in the drawing, we see ladies with the body of an egg shaped vessel. (A5, drawing @ 300 euro; 50x40 cms., oil @ 3,250 euro.) Until 12th July. https://bit.ly/2JL0Mff 
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"aschenbach & hofland galleries" (Bilderdijkstraat 165c) hangs the chaotic expressionistic mixed-media paintings of Koen Delaere that have strong abstract geometric aspects. If you like color, lots of color, this work is for you. His mono prints standout because of their individual uniqueness. (60x60 cms., monoprint @ 500 euro; 40x30 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,750 euro; 200x150 cms., mixed-media on canvas @ 8,500 euro.)...Showing, too, is Isabelle Wenzel who is basically a conceptual photographer who likes colors and sometimes garishly so. Nearly all feature the female figure, but that's irrelevant. It is only an added element to what is often a geometric abstraction. the poses and compositions are unusual. A juxtaposition to all this are her sculpture works which reflect the forms of rocket ships. (50x40 cms., photo, Ed 5 @ 500 euro; 110x145 cms., photo, Ed 5 @ 1,700 euro.) Until 23rd July. http://gerhardhofland.com/en/ 
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David Lindberg (US/NL) has a retrospective show at the Nieuw Dakaota (Ms. Van Riemsdijkweg 41b). He is a conceptualist with a sense of humor. Sometimes you have to search for it, but the effort is worth the adventure. He uses epoxy and glass-carbon fiber to create everything from wall-hangings to a "One Person Conference Room" that is about the size of a small holiday caravan...and it has a TV. Two large epoxy pieces---one in red---are like large monochromatic paintings but at the same time with a busy imagery. Who said monochromatic work is boring? Most pieces on exhibit are from private collections with only a few For Sale. (78x30x31 cms., mixed-media @ 4,500 euro; 256x56x296 cms., pigment, glass, cloth and epoxy @ 12,000 euro; 510x205x231 cms., mixed-media @ 28,000 euro.) Until 31st July. https://nieuwdakota.com/ 
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The Sexy Art Gallery presents a group show under the title "pornosaints." There are 14 artists from various countries represented. The invite says "Pornosaints is an international collective of artists who portray porn stars as saints." And what you will see is not "pornographic" (sorry!). Nor for that matter, very erotic. The diversification of techniques is excellent: painting, photography, drawings, paintings and prints. Most are representational and a few have a conceptual edge. (60 to 1,070 euros.) Until 31st August. The gallery, itself, is located on the third floor of "The Erotic Museum." And the museum is not what you probably expect it to be. It has an eclectic collection of works in style and technique and the imagery ranges from nudes to Japanese pornographic woodblocks and with everything in-between. There are several famous artists included in the collection and the range is over several centuries. All is tastefully presented. The entry fee is 7 euro, however if you are coming for the Sexy Art Gallery specify the fact and the entree is 5 euro and you can still see the rest of the musuem. https://bit.ly/2N7NL1z 
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John Hilliard (UK) presents a show titled "Right and Wrong" at ArtAffairs (Veemkade 354). On entering the gallery, 3D first looked to his left and saw b/w photos. Well, I have an affinity for b/w so I started on that side and not on the right where there were color photos hanging. The photos each had strong dark contrast and appeared to be simple landscapes...but, something else was going on. At the fourth photo, showing a cow in a pasteur, I saw that it had more than four legs. Huh? Further down the same wall was a b/w photos---with a touch of color---of a wooded area and three people in color. But they also had a ghostly imagery. Hmmm, what's going on here? On the other side of the room, the subject matter changed dramatically. Views of rooms and people and, again, with a rather surreal aspect. The titles for each photo seemed to be reveling. but in an indirect way. As an example, "Good Dog/Bad Dog" showed a Snoopy-like dog----as a cut-out toy---and a eerie looking naked lady. I decided it was time to talk to the artist. Well, depending on the photo, the technique is complicated to more complicated. The cow (mention above with more than four legs) was a photo taken from both sides of the animal. The two sides were then superimposed with the help of PhotoShop. That's the simple explanation and there is not enough room in this newsletter to go into the more complicated aspects not to mentioned that most times Hilliard makes a preparatory drawing. (41x51 sms., b/w on museum board, Ed 6 @ 1,700 euro; 76x101 cms., color digital print on aluminium, Ed 3 @ 4,00 euro.) Until 25th June. https://bit.ly/2LfBlnI 
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WALLS (Prinsengracht) made it easy on 3D for once. The latest exhibition is, like always, a group show of 17 artists. However there is a clearly defined theme: Street Art. "Beyond the Streets" is an apt title because it brings street art inside and off the streets giving it the respectability is has earned after 40 or more years of struggling as an ugly child of art. We have long associated this form of art with the graffiti that mars the walls of any metropolitan area world-wide (even Rome suffered with it during the time of the Cesar's). But by coming in-doors it is becomes more presentable, acceptable, creditable and even more artistic. This is a very good overview of the StreetArt of today which combines styles ranging from geometric abstraction to realism/representational and the Pop Art School. (75 to 3,100 euro.) Until 30th July. https://bit.ly/2LRAexM 
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Ben Young (UK) presents "Happy Nihilism" and shows it at LOCUSLUX GALLERY (Brouwersgracht 151). Young is a contemporary abstract/expressionist who goes a little further. Expressionism is generally defined, in part, as having lots of color. This is sometimes true with Young, but not also. As an example, he hangs a large b/w work that appears to be a face. But it doesn't really matter since the b/w contrast and abstraction overrides any sense of the representational. Another work emulates Willem de Koonig in both colors and broad brush strokes. Then there is an example of the marriage of expressionism, typography and heavy on color. Each work is unique to the others; the work is both strong and assertive. (100x100 cms., oil, collage, oil stick and spray paint on canvas @ 3,2200 euro; 180x180 cms., oil, collage, permanent market and spray paint on liner @ 5,400 euro.) Until 16th July. https://bit.ly/2B16Ukk 
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...And just a few doors away at Galerie Van Zijll Langhout (Brouwersgracht 161) is an exhibition for Bas Louter. He makes mixed-media drawings on paper. He takes the figurative more or less as a frame for geometric abstraction. One piece, in b/w, pays homage to Piet Mondrian. The work is in charcoal, gouache and pastel on paper. (1,500 to 4,000 euro.) Until 31st August. https://bit.ly/2m7l7Sk 
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Netty van den Heuvel returns to Galerie De Witte Voet for the nth time. This work is intricately designed ceramic work that sometimes resembles a tree where the branches are intertwined to a piece that is a collection of arches combined and tiered. Wall pieces take on other forms from a simple oval interspersed with holes to a glass ball engulfed in a lattice of porcelain. Everything is snow white. She says of her work that she doesn't work so much with ceramics, but with light. (200 to 5,000 euro; several between 350-900 euro.) Until 29th June. https://bit.ly/2NSLxnD 
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That's all, folks. The 2010-2011 Amsterdam Art Season officially comes to an end on Sunday the 10th of July. That's the day that the Rietveld Akademie graduate exhibition ends. It was NOT a banner year for sure; and the problems with the Openbare Bibliotheek greatly affected the frequency---not to mention the basic formula---for the "3D List." We'll see what happens "come September." In the meantime, have a pleasant summer and it is looking like it will be a great one weather-wise. Cool...or do I mean Hot? Well, not too hot...

http://gould3dlist.blogspot.nl/  

 

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