08 march 2022, Manuela Klerkx
Art Central Rotterdam
Everybody knows Rotterdam is the cultural breeding ground for contemporary art in the Netherlands. For many years now, dozens of galleries and exhibition spaces have been showing the latest developments in the visual arts. On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March between 12.00 and 17.00 they will do this together for the first time under the banner of Art Central Rotterdam XL. Visitors can participate in various - free - tours along more than 30 galleries and exhibition spaces to discover and celebrate the vibrant visual arts scene in Rotterdam. Also, you can win an art work and we’ll end our tour in reopened Huidenclub!
What’s on at the galleries
Marie Reintjes, Emergency exit, 2021, Cokkie Snoei.
COKKIE SNOEI
Cokkie Snoei exhibits the work of two artists who seem to find each other in the twilight zone between familiarity and alienation: 'This is how their artworks looked wonderfully sabotage your viewing experience.' The recent paintings by Keeetje Mans (1979) with female knights' eyes familiar, but also raise questions due to their mythological and surrealistic nature. In the work of Marie Reintjes (1990), the focus is not so much on the what – the anecdote or the story – but on the how: the lines, shapes and light of what she sees before her. The view of reality thus becomes a completely unique constellation, which regularly asks for different painting styles and design languages in order to best capture it in a painting.
Keetje Mans, From the shieldmaidens series (12), 2022, Cokkie Snoei.
NL=US ART
The 'Re-canvassed' group exhibition at NL=US brings together artists Lily de Bont, Kirsten Hütsch, Gijs van Lith and Jan Maarten Voskuil. Their work explores the boundaries of the canvas by using it not only as an object (as a carrier) but also by turning it into the subject itself. Voskuil stretches the linen on spatial frames. He often uses these as modules to build hybrid works that span fields such as sculpture, design and architecture. De Bont tackles the painting frontally by systematically and accurately cutting the threads and removing them from the stretcher or weaving them apart.
Jan Maarten Voskuil, Cuts in orange, 2022, NL=US Art.
PHOEBUS ROTTERDAM
In the project space of the Phoebus gallery, the exhibition 'On Reflection' offers a glimpse into the work of artist Simon Benson, whose work consists not only of individual drawings but also of spatial installations that include drawings. Arno Kramer about Benson's work: 'He [Simon Benson, MK] is not only a very gifted and meticulous draftsman of subjects such as architecture, nature, man in its many capacities, portraits, etc., he also sees an opportunity to connect these subjects with text in a special way.'
Simon Benson, In a Mind of My Own Making _ 8. (Borges _ Self), 2020, PHOEBYS Rotterdam.
CHRYSALID GALLERY
The title of the exhibition 'Pin Cushions' refers to the emotions you feel when you become aware of the sharp pricks of the pins (hidden in it) through the softness of the pincushion. Vladimir Radujkov wants his paintings to induce the same emotional trance as a pincushion and to be experienced as such. The aim of his painting is "to bring the sharpest feelings to the softest spot of the mind." He uses repetition to create a lively linear shadow play, which contributes to the overall dynamism of the works. The lines vary from very long to very short, almost comma-like, and he uses them to edit the chaos and bring order to his composition.
Vladimir Radujkov, HORNET 04 1:8, 2021, Chrysalid Gallery.
ROOF-A
Until May 29, ROOF-A shows work by Frank van der Salm, Sjoerd Knibbeler, Hans Broek and Seet van Hout. Wilma Süto about the work of Seet van Hout: 'Seet van Hout triggers one’s imagination with images and words complementing each other. Fragments, streaks and fragments describe and illustrate the workings of memory, including spaces of oblivion. A mountain of diaries with embroidered dust jackets evokes a whole woman's life. They remain closed, but a cloud of thoughts rises from them, full of dreams, memories, traumas and desires that have piled up between the pages.”
CONTOUR GALLERY
The work of Jan Pypers (Belgium, 1982) resembles stills taken from a movie scene, which can best be described as spatial, cinematographic and dreamy. Despite being perfectly staged, the performances seem spontaneous or random. The scenes from 'Nightgardeners' arise from experiences or memories of his childhood of people who engage in activities that do not fit the time of day. Although he draws on reality for this, Pypers nevertheless creates a different world through minimal interventions in the image. Small details do not seem to fit into the decor and thus generate tension or suggest a secret that cannot be solved. To capture his settings and create a certain atmosphere, the artist combines modern digital techniques with classic methods from the film world, such as the use of scale models and forced perspective.
Jan Pypers, Nightgardeners XIII, 2021, Contour Gallery.
FRANK TAAL
CATCH ’22 at Frank Taal Galerie shows work by 22 artists from its own praogramme, supplemented with work by guest artists. Participating artists: Aeneas Wilder, Bram Braam, Carl Berg, Daan den Houter, Daniel Mullen, David Dimichele, Erik Sep, Frank Taal, Gerben Mulder, Hans Wilschut, Hester Scheurwater, Isabelle Borges, Jan ten Have, Manfred Peckl, Marilou van Lierop, Mike Ottink, Pieter jan Martyn, Roderik Henderson, Rutger de Vries in collaboration with Gjalt Productions, Saminte Ekeland, Stephen J Shanabrook, Ties Ten Bosch, Tom Woestenborghs, Tycho van Zomeren, Wolfgang Ganter.
Tom Woestenborghs, Bathroom Sequence 3, 2021, Frank Taal Galerie.
CHRISTIAN OUWENS GALERIE
“British artist James Aldridge (1971) lives in the woods of Sweden, where he likes to break the silence with heavy metal. His paintings are full of elements of nature, from birds to cobwebs.” This excerpt from an interview with art magazine See All This may explain why Aldridge was inspired by such diverse influences as images in natural history field guides, Renaissance landscapes, walks in the nature, watercolours by John James Audubon and heavy metal music. His paintings show an eclectic world consisting of plants, flowers and animals that interact in a layered and complex way. The opening of James Aldridge's 'Slow Burn' exhibition will take place on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. The artist will be present.
‘Soundtrack for a Troubled Time’ at the Huidenclub | Closing event of Art Central Rotterdam XLThe closing event of Art Central Rotterdam XL is also the reopening of the Huidenclub: a new experimental platform in Rotterdam for the production and presentation of contemporary culture. The reopening is celebrated with the group exhibition 'Soundtrack for a Troubled Time' - curated by Chris Bestebreurtje and Petra Kuipers - with participating artists: Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, Katinka Bock, Charbel-joseph H. Boutros & Stéphanie Saadé, Edith Dekyndt, Angela Detanico & Raphael Lain, Roni Horn and Cally Spooner.
Katinka Bock Radio (2014 - 2015) (Foto: François Douris)
Stamp card
With a stamp card with an overview of all locations of all participating parties, participants can participate in the organized - free - tours or determine their own route. What’s more, if you collect 20 stamps you stand the chance to win a work of art.
Free tours
Discover the Rotterdam art world during free guided tours with an experienced art guide. The routes take you to different locations, where you always get short introductions. That way you can orientate yourself, meet people and network. Compiled by Art Index Rotterdam Tours. For information about the tours and participation click here
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/41459598793
Win a work of art!
Collect at least 20 different stamps on your stamp card from the 30+ participants and have a chance to win an art voucher worth €400.
Rules of the game: take a photo of your stamp collection, share it on Facebook/Instagram by Sunday evening 13 March 2022 with the tag @artcentralrotterdam. The winner will be announced online.
About the participants
Participating galleries: Christian Ouwens, Chrysalid Gallery, Cokkie Snoei, Contour Gallery, Frank Taal, NL=US Art, PHOEBUS Rotterdam, Root Gallery, ROOF-A Wilfried Lentz Rotterdam, VIVID Galerie, ZERP Galerie, JOEY RAMONE
Participating exhibition spaces and institutions: Garage Rotterdam, Kunstinstituut Melly, TENT, A Tale of A Tub, Huidenclub, MAMA, PrintRoom, Studio Seine, Murals Inc. Brutus, Galerie Atelier Herenplaats, Het Archief, Hilton Art Lab, Huis van de Fotografie.
