Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #78

I begin this list on the first day of Spring. Growing up in the American' Midwest, March the 20th was always a disappointing day. The tv/radio news would announce the event, but, as I walked to school, I would scan the tree branches in hope of seeing buds or at least one bud. There was always nothing. Today, in Holland, it is 20 degrees, several varieties of flowers are in bloom and not only are there buds on trees and bushes but many already have small leaves. 3D LOVES Dutch weather!

So, now that spring is here it is time to get out of the house and and check out the Amsterdam Art Scene which is as vibrant as mother nature in its variety of offerings. The first three months has been some what abbreviated from previous years: Fewer exhibitions because there are less galleries and those still in business have reduced the number of shows they have per year. The good news is that there is still much to see and much is on a very high level. 

INDEX:

BITS & PIECES:

MUSEUM REVIEWS:    "foam:" Seven photographers are reviewed. 

                                         Amsterdam Museum & Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar:
                                                      Jacob van Oostsanen (1470-1533)

                                         Stadsarchief Amsterdam: Heineken's opened its brewery in 1860
                                                      and its founder, Gerard Heineken, contributed to the city's
                                                      rebirth. 

                                         "museum huis voor fotografie marseille:"  Apartheid & After, 13 
                                                      photographers hang their impressions.

WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED: A total of 23 galleries reviewed and 40 artists.

***

BITS & PIECES:

NEW: WGKUNST has announced workshops in drawing and animation. Simple line drawing, 27th April; comic strip style, 1st & 2nd May; Animation/time lapse, 3rd May; masterclass, 4th May. More inof: www.wgkunst.nl 
***
"foam"  announced that the William Klein exhibition attracted 55,000 people.
***
The Marcel Wanders opening night exhibition, at the Stedelijk Museum, attracted over 2,800 guest. It was necessary to wait with several hundred other people to get into the show. 
*** 
The Stedelijk Museum has also just announced that on the 24th of April the iconic painting "Who's Afraid of Red, White and Blue III," by Barnett Newman, will once again be hung for showing...Oh, my, say it ain't so! Please! The canvas was badly slashed in 1986. The restoration work destroyed more of it than the slasher. It lost its luminosity which was the highlight. The new version should be forgotten and stored away somewhere for ever and ever...if only out of respect for the artist.
***
The Club of Amsterdam will present a lecture titled The Future of Women in Business on the 24th of April. More info: www.clubofamsterdam.com
*** 
TEFAF has reported that "visitors from 56 countries attended the week long Antique and Art Fair. A record number of private jets---375---were recorded at Maastricht-Aachen airport." A total of 74,000 people paid to enter.
*** 
De Ateliers (Stadhouderskade 86) has announced their Spring Blossom' Lectures 2014. On the 1st of April, David Zink Yi; on the 8th of April, Ed Atkins; on the 15th Vanda Caivano. More info: www.de-ateliers.nl. Reservations necessary; RSVP to: office@de-ateliers.nl 
*** 
...And another artist' talk at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Keizersgracht 564) in association with Galerie Van Zijlllanghout. The artist is the video maker Francesca Grilli (It/Nl). The date and time: 10th April, Thursday, 20:30. No rsvp required.
***
The National Museum of Stockholm has lent to the Rijksmuseum-Amsterdam, Rembrandt's The Conspiracy of the Batavians Under Cladius-Civilis. The three meter long painting was executed between 1661-1662. It was original 6.5x6 meters, however, at that size, it proved difficult to sell so Rembrandt cut it down to 3x2 meters.
***
Lorenao Benedetti is the new director of the Appel Arts Centre. He had been director of the Vleeshal, in Middleburg, since 2008. Anne Demeester, who previously held the position, has been appointed the new director of the Frans Hals/De Hallen Museum in Haarlem.
*** 
SMBA has announced the publication of PROJECT 1975: Contemporary Art and the Post Colonial Unconscious. SMBA began a project concerned with this topic two years ago. It is now in book form and available at 23 euro (184 pages, paperback). It is a co-publishing effort between SMBA and "black dog publishing," London. 
*** 
A Guide to the 2014 Whitney Museum Biennial appeared February 28 and was written by Carol Vogel. The Biennial featured 103 participating artists. www.inyt.com 
*** 
Two articles by Scott Reyburn appeared together in the New York Times. One was titled, Global Reach for Smaller Fairs. The other is more personal for the Dutch. It outlines an up coming series of auctions, of drawings, from the collection of a former director  of the Department of Drawing, at the Rijksmuseum (1948-1980), I.Q. van Regteren Altena (1899-1980). A total of 1,000 drawings will be offered at auction houses in Paris, London and Amsterdam. www.inyt.com 
*** 
This might be interesting. "10 Websites all serious art buyers like to follow," compiled by Emma Wright, in New Zealand. email: https://bit.ly/2DlXnFw  email: emma@emmawright.co.nz.
*** 
Since the first of the year another three big name galleries have bit the dust...Willem van Zoentendaal, photography; and Michiel Hennus has closed Galerie Wetering which opened in 1973; and Wim van Krimpen who was back in town, for about two years, has also called it a day....The recession isn't over, folks.
***
For the last three or four years, 3D has conducted art tours for high school students from not only Amsterdam, but other Dutch cities as well. Last November, one teacher asked the students to review the tour. She has since posted them at: www.grkmla.wordpress.com 

MUSEUM REVIEWS: 

"foam" (Keizersgracht 609).

"foam" in years past has averaged about 25+ photographic exhibitions a year. Most were solo shows; other openings featured perhaps two photographers. But, since last year, "foam's" openings are sometimes for as many as four or five artists. This reduces overhead from several directions. No complaints. Just an observation. The current exhibitions features seven artists: Richard Mosse who is assisted by Trevor Tweeten and Ben Frost; Kaveh Golestan; Ola Lanko; and Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs, winners of the Paul Huff Award for 2013

The main feature is the work of Richard Mosse (Ireland). It is a multi-media installation which duplicates Ireland's contribution to the 55th International Biennial in Venice. The installation consists of six large screens which show a forty minute long film in both time-sections and sectioned by scenes. 

The action takes place in the eastern part of the Congo. Since 1998, there has been an on-going civil war; in fact, several on-going civil wars, ethnics against ethnics and tribes against tribes. Sometimes it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad. But that is the reality of this conflict: Who are the bad guys and who are the good ones? whatever the answer, the conflict has resulted in at least 5.4 million deaths that are war related. A phenomenal number. As a comparison, World War I, with a participation of 15 countries, had a total of 8.5 million dead. 

Mosse goes beyond the photographic journalist style and technique by interjecting a technique that makes the whole battle field into a surrealistic composition. He uses "discontinued military surveillance film...that registers an invisible spectrum of infrared light, and was originally designed for camouflage detection." What that means, the green flora of the Congo takes on several hues of magenta---from pink to red. The scenes sometimes take on an aura of a psychedelic inspired film. 
Mosse says he is attempting to bring "two worlds into collision: Art's potential to represent narratives so painful that they they exist beyond language, and photography's capacity to document specific tragedies and communicate them to the world." Don't miss the take-away poster; you will find it in one of the smaller galleries. Until 1st June.

Taiyo Onorate and Nico Krebs (both Swiss) opens their exhibition with an unusual installation based on film and sounds. It is sort of Dada meets the 21st century. There is  a table with five "hammers" on it and each makes a different sound because of the hammer size and/or because of the object it strikes. On a wall, we see a man, with a large sledge hammer, hacking away at nothing, but each stroke is reflected in a sound from one of the table's hammers. And just when you think you have seen everything in this particular gallery to be seen, you look out the back floor-to-ceiling windows and see a "new building" in the museum's garden. Well, if you look twice and begin dissecting the imagery you realize you are looking at a mirror image of both the back of the building and the gallery you are standing in. All this is reflected in a very large mirror. Cool!

And there is more to get your attention. There is a small but long hallway, on mezzanine level. When you enter from the left side, you see in the middle of the hallway a projected 3D video featuring abstract forms in constant change and no pattern repeating itself. It's interesting. But what makes it fascinating is that when you enter this hallway from the right side you see the other side of the abstraction: Several shards of mirrors hanging and revolving before the lens of a large over sized camera; there are color lights reflecting off the mirrors. Nice! Until 11th May

Kaveh Golestan (Iran, 1950-2003) went into an old walled neighborhood of Tehran between 1975 and 1977. He photographed the people living and working there. For the most part, he focused on the women in the sex trade. The section, Shahr-e No ("New City") would be purposely destroyed by fire just days before the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini; the number of dead has never been determined. All the work is in b/w which conveys the grimness of the lives of these people. Golestan is considered to be "an important and prolific Iranian documentary photographer and a pioneer of street photography." Until 4th May. 
*
Ola Lanko (Ukraine) is in "foam's" library which is reserved for "young talent." She mounts an unique show. It consists of 365 photographic works of the same view of the IJ waterway, in Amsterdam, taken from her apartment window. Everyday she took 2,000 automated pictures of the IJ. She hangs the work as an installation. A circular iron rod has been hung from the ceiling, it has a diameter of about four meters; on the rod hangs large photographic film sheets. There are 365 of them. Each film sheet has rows and rows of photos that add up to 2,000 images. Well, conceptually speaking, this is an interesting idea. However, as to the photographic part that is the imagery you don't see much of anything. It would have been helpful for our appreciation, of her initiative, if one film sheet at been enclosed in a box frame and back lit. Until 7th May. www.foam.nl 
***  

AMSTERDAM MUSEUM  & STEDELIJK MUSEUM ALKMAAR                                   

Jacob van Oostsanen (1470-1533)

The two museums have joined forces to present an exciting show for Jacob van Oostsanen (1470-1533) who, it is said, was the "first known Amsterdam' artist." He arrived, in the city, in 1500, at the age of 25. It was a very fortuitous time of arrival. The Pope had declared it to be a Holy Year, a Jubilee Year. "Those who made a pilgrimage to Rome...would receive a complete indulgence for their sins." It was also possible to receive the indulgence by visiting other selected cities. The Pope nominated Amsterdam as one of the sites. "This gave the city's economy a boost...all the pilgrims needed somewhere to sleep, food and wanted souvenirs." Van Oostsanen seized on this opportunity by making wood blocks prints and all with religious themes. Well, this was to be expected since he only made religious----and Catholic---art. Also, Amsterdam, had a population of only 10,000 people, of which one-third were monks, priest and nuns. One third of the city consisted of churches, chapels. monasteries and convents. Amsterdam was truly a Catholic city, but already there were signs of the coming Reformation. 

His artistic influences were the Flemish and Renaissance painters. He incorporated the same symbols, style and technique. And he was a contemporary of both Albrecht Durer and Lucas van Leyden. Plus, when you closely inspect his work it becomes obvious that he was probably a direct influence on the style of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569).

His technique was meticulous. Examine closely The Adoration of Christ with the Boelen Family (1512) especially the Virgin's hair, and the adoring cherubs' hair, which was painted hair-by-hair. Beautiful. In the foreground there is a  Book of Psalm's and a contemporary musician could easily play the music since each note is written clearly. 

At the time, Amsterdam, twice a year, sponsored a religious parade. Van Oostsanen designed and made banners plus the regal outfits worn by priest and burgomasters, as well as, merchants and militiamen.  Children participated dressed as devils and angels. On display are samples of the finery and pendants that were carried through the city.

At the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar there are another 25 paintings plus woodcuts, embroidery, etc. Again, an amazing collection of paintings that documents his skills. 

A small painting (50x35 cms) Christ Appearing Before Mary Magdalen (1507) is a work that could have inspired the later style of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Look closely at the background and you can discern human figures not to mention rabbits hopping across the hills. It is a striking work. 

Also in the show are works done by his son, grandson and his brother Cornelis Buy. 

At both museums the liner notes, on the wall, are in Dutch and English and make for interesting reading.

The finale of the exhibition is a visit to the Great Church of Alkmaar, directly across the square from the museum. In 1518, Van Oostseene painted a part of the ceiling. It was restored, in 2011, and is in  b/w, sepia and color. It is 30 meters from the floor. Bring your binoculars.

There is a catalog, De Renaissance in Amsterdam en Alkmaar, but only in Dutch. It is beautifully illustrated and 320 pages long with both b/w and color reproductions. There are 22 contributors. At 29.50 euro. 

If you don't know this artist this is the perfect time to get to know him. An excellent and important exhibition. A total of 21 foreign museums have donated work and four Dutch ones. Until 29th June, 2014. www.vanoostsanen.nl Also, to review 28 images from the exhibition click on to: https://bit.ly/2slcN5K 
*** 

Stadsarchief Amsterdam (Vijzelstraat 32).

HEINEKEN'S AMSTERDAM

In 1860, Amsterdam had a population of about 250,000 and had seen better days. Much better ones. The 17th Century golden Age was history. Houses were dilapidated, the city impoverished; and canal walls collapsing. Something had to be done. 

A group of progressive citizens stepped forward to do something about the situation. Plans were made including the building of the North Sea Canal (1865-1871); and the dredging of the harbor which had so much silt larger ships could not come to port. 

Something else momentous was afoot. The 19th century had become a hot bed of social theory which had bred progressive thinking on several levels. This was a big influence for the city's development which continued at full swing until the start of the Great Depression. 

One of the social leaders was Gerard Heineken (1841-1893). He came from a wealthy family and at the age of 23 he purchased the brewery known as De Hooiberg. His first act was to change the beer's brewing recipe so that it reflected the Bavarian beer that we call "lager." Another innovation came from his new distribution method. He opened cafes that provided the new brew and rented them to private citizens. It was a win-win formula. Success was rapid. 

In 1867, he built the first Heineken' brewery at the Stadhouderskade. It was at the same period the Vondel Park was being established. He was a true 19th century progressive and "exerted himself to improve worker's housing and to promote the arts." The former led to the development of De Pijp; and the latter interest resulted in the building of the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, Tropen, Concergebouw and creating a World Exhibition, in 1883, which was the crown on a remarkable economic, social and cultural revival which the city was experiencing. It was also the first to be featured as "international colonial exposition---industry was bypassed." New hotels were built, tram lines expanded, new neighborhoods established and Gerard Heineken was at the center of it all. 

This exhibition takes you through the epoch period of social history for the city. Photographs are used effectively, but the computer generated city scapes whisk you through its growth with superb graphics and illustration. There is also a non-stop screening of the 1930s film From Barley to Beer

An excellent exhibition for anyone who "Loves Amsterdam!" And wait until you see the homage to Heineken in the building's lobby made from several hundred Heineken' beer cases. 

Until 11th May. https://bit.ly/1WeP2EC 
*** 

"museum huis voor fotografie marseille,"  Keizersgracht 401 

"Apartheid & After"  is a group show featuring 13 photographers. It consist of "before" and "after" photos of South Africa spanning the period of apartheid and what has followed. There isn't space to list every artists but here is an example of what you might expect. 

Jo Ractliffe returns to areas which were prominent during the Angola' Civil War. She visits military camps now abandoned. She chronicles memorial services for those who were killed. She does it all in sober b/w photographs...Guy Tillim spends a week at Petros Village. He makes portraits of its citizens with emphasis on couples; he captured them at work; children at play...Paul Alberts does Democratic Portraits which is a series of portraits for the purpose of voter identification...Daniel Naude photographs various animals---domestic and wild---that inhabit South Africa...And much, much more. Until 8th June. www.huismarseille.nl 
*** 

WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED...but, there may still be time...

(NEW TO THE LIST: 15th April)  

Ryan McGinness (USA) is at RON MANDOS (Prinsengracht 282) and it is a walk down memory lane. Let's turn back the calendar to the late 60s and early 70s. POP Art and Op Art were styles that blew your mind much as LSD did. Milton Glazer designing Dylan covers and Bridget Riley with her Op Art LP covers. McGinnis's work is a psychedelic "flashback" to those by-gone days of yesteryear. And it is intentional and intended by the artist who describes his work as mindscapes. The work will make your eyes pop. Brilliant to garish colors and every'one from the color spectrum. But there are also examples in b/w. And he offers something called "on site installations." You will see a completed work surrounded by say 10 real silkscreens with the imagery intact which were made to make the work. He combines several symbols/cliches to tell his "mind blowing"story. Many of his pieces make use of 15 or 20+ silkscreens. Don't overlook the small gallery, generally reserved for video/film exhibitions. This, too, is an on site installation. The seven pieces were done on site. You will "trip"on these truly psychedelic images in fluorescent decals under a black light. Captivating. There is also a video showing him at work in his NYC studio. (99x71 cms., monograph, lithograph printed for stone @ 6,000 euro; 61x61 cms., acrylic wood panel @ 17,000 euro; 122x122 cms., acrylic on wood panel @ 40,000 euro; 183x183 cms., site specific installation, mixed media @ 69,000 euro). Until 10th May. www.ronmandos.nl 
*** 
At Rento Brattinga Galerie is the work of Ko Aarts who traveled to Brazil and focused on the architectural banality of neighborhoods in Rio, Salvador and So Paulo. But he captures the views in a geometric representational style. Actually, the paintings look like illustrations for a children's book or for a comic strip. Colorfully and busy define the imagery. Other works incorporate a football pitch with the surrounding neighborhood. (23x13 cms., acrylic on paper @ 500 euro; 45x60 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 1,600 euro; 140x180 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 6,500 euro) Until 24th May. www.rentobrattinga.com 
*** 
There is a group show at Ornis A. Gallery (Hazenstraat 11) with five artist. The styles range from figurative drawings to paintings that emulates German Expressionism to a large representational canvas to abstraction. In other words, something for everyone. A b/w charcoal by Anna Navasardian is striking and an abstract painting by Mirjam Jacob hangs on a wall that has been painted to complement the work's colors....Inge Aanstoot is the one responsible for the large canvas---200x300 cms, acrylic---which has several style elements; and there appears to be a story. (550 to 1,300 to 3,400 to 5,000 euro). Until 10th May. https://ornisagallery.com/ 
*** 
Sarah Mei Herman does portrait photography and you can see it at Kahmann Gallery (Linderstraat 35
). The posing appears to be natural; there are no forced smiles and the background is often in tune with the subjects. In this exhibition, she focuses on young children, both boys and girls. The photos are often poignant. Some of the subjects she had photographed several times and in this show we see multiple examples of a young boy named Jonathan. The first examples is from 2007. This is followed by snaps done in 2011 and 2013. All works are in color. (14x16 cms., analog C-print, Ed 7 @ 895; 49x61 cms., analog C-print, Ed 7 @ 2,250 euro; 99X134 cms., analog C-print, Ed 7 @ 3,750 euro.) Until __?___. www.kahmanngallery.com 

FOOTNOTE: At the gallery was an example of a new photographic magazine: NEW DAWN. It features Dutch photographers plus interviews and short portfolios of their work. It is 40 pages and each page has one to three photos reproduced. The magazine is FREE but there is no mention where you can find a copy. And for those too lazy to go in search, you can subscribe to it at 25 euro for six issues, which pays the postage, and is sent to you. www.newdawnpaper.nl, email: info@newdawnpaper.nl 
*** 
Witteveen Art Centre (Konijnenstraat 16A) presents Arno Kramer who makes conceptual drawings and w/c. And the term conceptual takes in several completely different styles: Figurative, representational, geometric/abstract and even typography; he often combines several styles in one composition. There is always another surprise as you meander your way through the show. (45x57 cms., @1,060 euro; 3,200 to 5,200 euro, NO sizes  listed on price list.) Until 3rd May. https://bit.ly/2NR0zdF 
***  
You can see a special exhibition of African photography, at Looiersgracht 60, by Laar Buurman. 3D has both studied and read on the continent of Africa. Still this was an illuminating exhibition. Several months ago, I read "Stanley," a biography of Henry Morton Stanley who made three expeditions into Equatorial Africa totaling nine years. It was through the jungle; unnavigable rivers; hostile tribes and disease: Dysentery, malaria and just something called "fever." There are now cities where there was nothing. Buurman captures these "modern" cities with there 20th and 21st century icons: KFC and new automobiles and SUVs. Indeed, you will see the shanty towns which still surround the larger cities on their fringes. But you will also see the dignity of the people expressed by what they wear. Color fashions with geometric/abstract patterns. He describes his technique as "documentary." He will spend 30 minutes at one scene and will represent that time in one or more photos. Buurman has, over a six year period, visited 14 African cities from "Cairo to Cape Town, from Lagos to Da es Salaam. Don't miss the writings on the floor. There are quotes from the book, This City, by Chris Abani. Here is one: "African cities make the worst lovers. They seduce you with an impossible juxtaposition of fabulous, and then when they have yo, when you can never leave them or love another city, they break your heart." No price list. Until 3rd May. 

NOTE: There is a book launch on the 23rd of April at 20:00. For more info check www.smba.nl 
***
MORREN Galleries (Prinsengracht 572) presents, once again, Gertja Scholte-Albers. This is perhaps the third of fourth time I have seen his work. And he remains true to his basic theme of painting trees. Somehow each work is truly unique. Both the colors and even slight variations of technique. And as to his style, well, imagine combining Van Gogh, Sam Francis and a touch of Monet and you can form a mental image of what to expect. The technique employees brush strokes similar to Van Gogh; the bstract color backgrounds are reminiscent of Francis's chaotic colors; and Monet because of his rainbow of colors. A couple of paintigns are Kitsch masterpieces. (3,800 euro) Until 25th May. www.morrengalleries.nl 
*** 
A group show, of three artists, is at Galerie Clement (Prinsengracht 843). Jan Bass does sort of abstract expressionism though his colors don't overpower you. For the most part he prefers dark colors. (50x40 cms., @ 650 euro; 70x55 cms., @ 1,000 euro)....Frans Horbach has once again made an adjustment to his style of geometric/abstraction. He plays with perspective in several unique ways. Some works incorporate the linear with the abstract. For the most part the colors are subdued. (50x50 cms., @ 1,550 euro; 60x70 cms., @ 1,800 euro)....Helen Vergouwen is a sculptor that balances the show with corten-steel works. They tend to be simple geometric rectangular forms (2,750 to 3,750 euro). Until 3rd May. https://bit.ly/2J3VcnE 
***
ART A CASA (Kerkstraat 411) hangs the flower bouquets of Claire van Stolk. Describe them as contemporary impressionism. She combines her colors in unique combinations creating an ongoing tension in the work. (900 to 1,500 euro.)....Showing with her is Elisabeth Jonkers whose style is reminiscent of Frida Kahol, the Mexican artist. And she paints ladies exclusively with a focus on colors which are bright and sometimes assertive. (1,500 to 1.950 euro) Until 26th May. www.artacasa.nl
***
END OF NEW LISTINGS:
***

FONTANA GALLERY (Lauriergracht 11) titles this exhibition, for Hannes Wallrafen (NL/Germ), as Memories of a Blind Photographer. Yes, that is an attention getter...but Wallrafen wasn't always blind. That only happened 10 years ago, thus, the use of the word "Memories." He was "famous for his staged photography through which he sought to translate time into engineered images." His selection of subject matter was truly eclectic. We see the interior of derelict buildings; a "flying"  horse; a young girl on a merry-go-round; prostitutes lingering outside of a Latin American cantina; a simple family scene with man woman and two children in front of the car parked before a non descript row of houses. Oh, yeah, the "flying" horse is one if his iconic photos and you have probably seen it before. The horse appears to be leaping over a table inside of a room. Most work is in color, but there are a few in b/w. When Wallrafen lost his eyesight, we lost an outstanding photographer. Today, he is active in doing sound work. (50x50 cms Ed 25 @ 2,500; 100x100 cms., Ed 15 @ 3,750; 120x120 cms., Ed 10 @ 5,000 euro---all work Ultrachrome Print mounted on dibond). 4 RED DOTS at opening. Until 10th May. www.fontanagallery.com 
***
Anton Reijnders is a conceptual ceramic artist showing at Galerie De Witte Voet (Kerkstraat 135). And you can expect a little of everything, but little that relates to traditional forms. He sometimes disguises the actual form as in "Loslaten." He has fun, too. One work, "Scio," looks like the finger that flashes "the bird," and obscene gesture. It is balanced against a giant chess pawn. What does this mean? Perhaps that higher authorities are "giving the finger" to us "pawns" of society. Whatever. There are also three moderate size installations. One more interesting than the other. (420 to 4,750 uro). Until 12th April. www.galeriedewittevoet.nl 
***
In the early 70s, Polaroid introduced the instant color SX-70 camera. The color was very close to true color though some hues varied from the original image. Dan Isaac Wallin is at Eduard Planting Gallery (1e Bloemdwarstraat 2) and he is a contemporary photographer who is using photographic artifacts and uses long expired Polaroid film. He also "gently and carefully treats and mistreats the film."  The result is an eerie-looking composition. Mainly, the subject matter is an outdoor motif: landscape, an elk, a barn and some with human figures. The colors are haunting. (14x18 cms., ink jet print from 10x8 cms Polaroid; 40x42 cms., ink jet print Ed 10 @ 1,250 euro; 12 cms., original Polaroid print @ 2,800; 70x88 cms., pin hold camera, ink jst @ 2,450 euro). Until 3rd May. www.eduardplanting.com 
*** 
Rene Korten is at Appels Gallery (Brouwersgracht 151) with conceptual abstract works which defy any specific classification. The paintings' backgrounds tend to be an expressionistic rendering and often with unusual colors. Sometimes he adds to this by including linear aspects creating a natural tension in the composition. But, again, what stands out are the colors; both mellow with a touch of aggressiveness and each very distinctive. (45x60 cms @ 1,890 euro; 100x120 cms., @ 3,960 euro; 154x240 cms., @ 9,200 euro). ntil 25th April. www.appelsgallery.nl 
***
Gallery CNCPT13 (Prinsengracht 266) shows an Egyptian political cartoonist, Yasser Rostom, who has burned out after three years of "illustrating" his country's revolution. He decided to something different. He began to make srawings that incorporate both his wit and sarcasm about societies and their people in the USofA, Europe, Arabs, Japan, China, Africa and India. His style ranges from strip art inspired by the surreal school. the work titled A Nouveau Riche Story is a "work about the USA an how its capitalistic culture effects the way they rule the world today. We can't deny that the history of this nation in fact is based on a cowboy mentality making many mistakes that caused revolutions and that they are proud of it." His drawing sums up all these point and in a succinct way. His technique is very good and his compositions look like a large collage because of its many independent parts. The exhibition travels next to Paris, onto London and concludes in NYC. (150x80 cms., ink, gouache, ecoline on paper @ 15,000). Until 4th April. https://4sq.com/2wSkmCz 
*** 
Jacqueline van der Plaat hangs conceptual figurative expressionistic/impressionistic mixed media paintings at LIFE(Lautiergracht 96). The figures---all females---are all faceless. No nose, mouth, nor ears. The colors reflect that of the German Expressionist of the 20s but lean towards pastel shades like the colors of Matisse. The compositions are both unusual and crowded; with many works she adds collages. (20x30 cm., ink/gouache on photograph @ 220 euro; 30x40 cms., oil on canvas @ 770 euro; 60x65 cms., acyclic/oil, mixed media on canvas @ 1,500 euro; 145x145 cms., acrylic, mixed media @ 3,200 euro) Untill 25th April. www.lifeamsterdam.nl 
*** 
"Galerie bart" (Elandsgracht 16) welcomes a Korean painter, Jisan Ahn (NL/Kor). He is a representational expressionist with bold brush strokes. He avoids color in preference for earth color shades and there are works only in b/w. As to the subject matter, well, that's another story. Some scenes are shocking like the two rats or the two severed arms. A large painting is reminiscent of Soutines side of beef painting. (50x60 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,430 euro; 100x140 cms., oil on canvas @ 3,120 euro; 200x240 cms., oil on canvas @ 5,720 euro). Until 10th May. www.galeriebart.nl 
***
Luzia Vogt, at RA GALLERY (New 120), is hip to the new technology. The jewelry on display was designed on a computer and made with a 3D printer using polyamide as the material. This technology allows for incredibly delicate and intricate designs. These forms tend to be conceptual and while they look familiar you can't really identify why. You will see rings, brooches, bracelets and pendants. (145 to 735 euro) Until 17th May. www.galerie-ra.nl
***
Galerie Paul Andriesse (Leliegracht 48) has Charlotte Dumas back in the saddle again. She rides into the art scene leading her posse of horses. She traveled to the American state of Utah with the express purpose of photographing wild horses. She goes beyond simply documenting them by showing a true interest in them as animals, their habits and in their environment. She made three separate trips and each time during a different season of the year. Oddly enough, she found that the wild horses congregated around small lowly populated "urban" centers where they forage for food from garbage receptacles. You will see two styles: Polaroid and C-prints. (2,000-9,000-12,000 euro). Until __?__. 
***
Thomas Mayer (Swiss) is at Ornis A. Gallery (Hazenstraat 11) with his photography. He specializes in photographing interiors which sometimes features people. The show is from a series of 25 from his Wohnportraits (living portraits) and all were shot in the 70s and 80s. He selects the home with a keen eye for those most interesting in some aspect. It can be a contemporary and streamlined room to one where an ironing board is the focus of attention. (29.7x42 cms. color photo, Ed 5 @750 euro; 42x59.4 cms., color photo, unique @ 1,100 euro) Until 2014. www.ornisagallery.com 
***
Galerie Roger Katwijk welcomes back John O'Carroll for the 6th+ time. The show's title is BLUE. And that's exactly what you get. The Blue shades reflect Delft Blue as well as Japanese and Chinese blues; cobalt being one of his favorite shades. He works with a variety of materials: wood, tree branches, ceramic, terracotta tiles and oil. Basically, the some work is conceptual redundancy with his ceramic-terracotta tiles as an example. One work, Egyptian Paste consists of about 120 rectangular ceramic pieces (10x4 cms.) and executed with copper carbonate blue. (Giclee print, Ed 10 @ 650 euro; 200 cm high yew & ash tree branch @ 1,500 euro; 110x150 cm., ultramarine and cobalt blue @ 6,800 euro). 4 RED DOTS at opening. Until 25th April. www.galerierogerkatwijk.nl 
***
Dianne Hagen is at LUMEN TRAVO (Lijnbaansgracht 314) and she does a little of everything as to both style and technique. There are mixed-media pieces in paint with collage additions, plus photography, a video in stop-action, and an installation. The mixed-media work is basically geometric/abstraction that reflects the POP School. One piece, that stands-out, is a large canvas with a b/w painting thats imagery looks like wood grains. There is a pentagon cut-out at its center; it frames a bright red geometric-abstraction. (950, 2,700, 4,200 and 6,000 euro) Until 19th April. www.lumentravo.nl 
***
...Out the door and a few steps away is AKINCI (Lijnbaansgracht 317) showing the photographs of Edwin Zwakman; his list of exhibitions, since 2002, is impressive and the list of "selected collections" even more so. In other words, he has been "discovered." This exhibition focuses on both interior and exterior architectural photographs. He is most concerned with simple forms. The interiors are sometimes empty of basic furniture; the exterior work captures in the composition not only the building's architectural design but how its surroundings relate to it. He prefers shooting against a gray and cloudless sky as opposed to blue skies on a sunny day. (43x76.5 Laser chroma, diasec rynobond, Ed 5 @ 2,200 euro; 150x223 cms., same technique, Ed 5 @ 8,500 euro). Until 19th April. www.akinci.nl
***
Theo Voorzaat returns to LIEVE HEMEL (Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 3)  with his realistic paintings that features both fantasy and humor. You can label his style as avant garde realism. His ability to project light from several angles like what you experience in the morning, afternoon and evening is remarkable. And these cityscape's could never be described as banal because of all the elements and nuances he adds to the panoramic overview of buildings and canals. Do people like his work? 9 RED DOTS at opening. (6,000; 16,000; 35,000; & 48,000 euro). Until 15th March...Oops. www.lievehemel.nl
***
Two new jewelry makers are showing at Galerie Rob Koudijs (Elandsgracht 12). Anya Kivankis makes jewelry with silver and the designs incorporate conceptual redundancy like a string of cherry size forms aligned; and other pieces group together costume jewelry-like objects with their paste diamonds aligned from the chain. The silver is matte thus the overall look is subtle as opposed to being flashy. (2,100 euro - 5,300 euro)....Jiro Kamata (Japan/NL) is back with his camera lenses. This time the work is more simple. He had taken the lens with its frame and put it on a string. Another series is a bit more involved. He cuts out forms to fit the diameter of the lens' frame; each is die-cut in an unique way and he layers two, three of more creating a 3D effect. (975; 1,375; & 4,650 euro). Until 12th April. http://www.galerierobkoudijs.nl/nl
***
Angle Gallery Amsterdam (Weteringschans 207) is exhibiting the work of two photographers. Isik Tuzuner (NL/Turkey) has switched techniques and is now doing photography. When you first look at the work you assume that the imagery owes much to PhotoShop. WRONG! They are all natural snaps. She plays with the camera and its functions and sometimes shakes everything up by shaking the camera. The colors are truly her's and she has used them in previous work. They are often garish and kitschy, but work very nicely into the composition. Oh, yeah, the subject was the new EYE Film Museum. A video slide is 12 minutes long (41x30 cms., fotoprint, Ed 5 @ 350 euro)....Peter Cleutjens is a conceptual photographer and the imagery reflects that because nothing is really identifiable. A couple of works exert a vortex, another a void and another is pure abstraction. Best of all, no two are the same. (75x60 cms., mixed media photo-technique, ink jet Ed 3 @ 750 euro; 90x148 cms., fotogram, ink jet Ed 3 @ 1,500 euro).  Until 19th April. www.anglegallery.nl 
***
"gallery 9" (Keizersgracht 548) shows two artists. Roland de Jong is a sculptor and works with steel nicely coated with a layer of rust. His styles is rather simple. Think of a series of cubes that seem to meander their way into a conceptual form. He does it both ways: As a wall pieces or one that sits on a table. ("nano," corten steel, Ed 5 @ 900 euro; 30x30x5 cms., painted mdf, Ed 5 @ 1,200 euro; 25x25x25 cms., corten steel, Ed 3 @ 2,200 euro)...Michiel Muyres is linear geometric/abstract painter who likes colors. Bright and assertive colors. Mix these factors together and you get intense canvases that sometimes makes you dizzy. However, he can be more subtle and there are a couple examples of that. One large canvas consist of 572 blue colored bars; each in a different shade. (100x100 cms., acryl paint, plastic resin on canvas @ 3,600 euro; 200x150 cms., acrylic paint, plastic resin on canvas @ 12,500 euro). Until 13th April. https://bit.ly/2O2dGJ6 
***
Hans Broek shows at Gerhard Hofland (Bilderdijkstraat 165) with beautiful b/w paintings---only one is painted with color oils. He is figurative' representational artist but his style is vague and his technique is with an expressionist brush. At opening, 6 RED DOTS. Until 12th April. www.GerhardHofland.com
***
VOUS ETES ICI (NDSM-laan, Ms. v Riemsdijkweg 41A) hangs a series of 39 silkscreens, on high gloss paper, by Koen Teselaar. Let's us start by saying that they are ALL colorful including those without color. All the prints are geometric/abstractions and/or patterns. No two are the same.The series covers the complete color spectrum. 3D didn't see any edition numbering or signature on the prints nor did the price list mention "signiature and edition." (100x70 cms., all priced @ 950 euro)...In a smaller gallery is the photography of Reinier Gerritsess who does "group portraits." They are not natural groups like friends or family, but groups pushed together on New York subway trains and stations. The people are in route to or from work and engaged in reading or studying their cells phones. Ten examples on display. No price list. There is also a book available titled Wall Street Stop. It consists of 100+ photos. No price available. Until 10th May. https://bit.ly/2vwApoe 
*** 
A group show with 12 artists is at TORCH (Lauriergracht 94). Expect to see a little of everything: video, photography, a bontanical installation---kid you not!---and a "living" and "breathing" photograph/video work. Several works stand out. The best of the best from each artists. Until 12th April. www.torchgallery.com 
***
Raymond Meeks shows at Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen with mostly b/w photographs, but there are five on color. He focuses on portraits and flowers. But the latter  is photographed from unusual angles and with an interesting composition. His portrait photographs emulated the simple snapshot but done with the eye of a professional. (30x23 cms., carbon ink jet print Ed. 3 @ 950 euro; 30x40 cms., carbon ink jet, Ed 3 @ 1,500 euro). Until 5th April. www.woutervanleeuwen.com 
*** 
RON MANDOS (Prinsengracht 282) shows two artist. David Berbeek visited Shanghai, in 2013, with the intention of shooting a vampire film. The rules and regulations to make a film in China delayed the project considerably. So Verbeek explored the "ultra-layered city of astonishing beauty." He captures this attractiveness in both an eerie  way and with somewhat a moody nuance. He likes to shoot at night which adds to the effect. And there is an almost surreal quality in the way people show up in the photos from time to time. (105x70 cms., Cymbolic light jet print, Ed 5 @ 1,950 euro; video, blu-ray: HD, 10:30 min, Ed 5 @ 6,00 euro)...Hans Wilschut  does city' architectural photographs with emphasis on Hong Kong. However, we don't see the iconic buildings that we generally associate with the city's cityscape. But, instead, we see it from several perspectives. I might add: Unusual perspectives. He photographs an high rise apartment house from both above and below. We look up at the jutting apartment blocks and we look down from the roof of one at the surrounding buildings' roofs. A panoramic view of Hong Kong---under a stormy sky---concentrates on what looks like and endless forest of high rise apartment houses. (52x80 cms., Fuji archival/perplex/dibond, Ed 5 @ 3,400 euro; 180x238 cms., endura/perplex dibond @ 9,500 euro). Until 29th March. www.ronmandos.nl 
***
There was a very short exhibition at JASKI ART GALLERY for Chris Bernes who returned to the gallery for the fifth or sixth time. Berens brings magic back into art. The proof of that statement is in his technique: you think it is something it isn't. Your first impression is the composition is a photographic collage. WRONG! It is a meticulous drawing. For this present show you could argue that his primary influence were P. Bruegel the Elder and H. Bosch. He emulates each of them in indirect and subtle ways. In essence, he makes their vision contemporary. There is also a Japanese flavor to the work and the exhibition will move to Lieden's Japanese Museum. 5 RED DOTS + 1 GREEN at opening. (31x55 cms., drawing and graphite on paper @ 7,000 euro; 58x100 cms., drawing + graphite on paper @ 16,000 euro). The opening was also use an an occasion for showing a TV documentary about the artist. www.Jaski.nl 
*** 

Hey, 3D began compiling this list on the first day of Spring and rejoiced at its perfection...and the weather is still close to perfect, if not perfect, for this time of the year...Is this Holland? Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere...But I digress....Now is the time to get out of the house, shake off the winter blues and participate in the rebirth of Mother Nature and normal human activity like going to an art gallery...and BUYING something!

Photo painting of Jacob van Oostsanen

http://gould3dlist.blogspot.nl/  

 

Reageren