10 september 2024, Flor Linckens
A weekend filled with art: Art Central Rotterdam XL
From 13-15 September, the fifth edition of Art Central Rotterdam XL will take place. This weekend marks the opening of the cultural season, in which around 30 Rotterdam galleries, art institutes and artist-run spaces welcome the public. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of events, including gallery openings, performances, workshops and guided tours. The art on display is diverse: from emerging talent to established names, from avant-garde to contemporary, and ranging from installations and paintings to photography and sculpture.
The grand opening of Art Central Rotterdam XL will take place on Friday 13 September at 7:00 PM at NIO House Rotterdam, where visitors will get a preview of the weekend’s offerings, featuring works by 20 participating artists. On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September, all locations will be open from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Contour Gallery will present the first solo exhibition by Mesut Ozturk in the Netherlands. In ‘Continuity Error’, Ozturk combines his background in architecture and ceramics to explore themes of balance, tension and impermanence. His "United" series, featuring ceramic forms held together by clamps, and "Pressure", where playful balls are trapped between heavy construction materials, both challenge visual and conceptual boundaries.
Contour Gallery will also feature the installation "Solid Ground" by Elsemarijn Bruys: an inflatable sculpture that invites interaction as visitors walk, sit or lie on it, sinking slowly into its surface and challenging perceptions of space.
At Frank Taal Galerie, two solo exhibitions by Manfred Peckl and Julia Schewalie will open during Art Central Rotterdam XL, with both artists present on 14 September. Peckl will present his second solo show 'WORD!', featuring his first series of paintings in 30 years, along with a performance at 4:00 PM. Schewalie will debut with 'Black is black, and sometimes not', a fascinating exhibition of her monochromatic works, emphasising dynamic interplay between light and shadow.
Christian Ouwens Galerie celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with the opening of a second location at Donner on the Coolsingel. In addition to their existing Museum Quarter location, the new gallery will showcase art, design and poetry, opening on 13 September at 10 AM. The anniversary year will highlight both the gallery’s past milestones and exciting new collaborations and exhibitions for the future.
ROOF-A ROOF-A will host three exhibitions: exhibitions by Seet van Hout, Sjoerd Knibbeler and Michelle Piergoelam. Knibbeler’s 'Passanten' draws inspiration from waste processing and his collaboration with scientists, transforming industrial waste into carefully staged photographs of sculptures. Van Hout’s exhibition explores the fragility of memory and nature, drawing on personal stories of her grandmother’s decline, and combining knitting, embroidery and abstract floral motifs. Piergoelam’s "The Untangled Tales" visualises stories of hope and resilience, focusing on traditions and symbolism from slavery. The latest chapter, "Fourteen Leaves and a Cup of Water", highlights the deep botanical knowledge of enslaved people, used for survival and, at times, to poison their oppressors.
NL=US Art will present the group exhibition ‘Keep On Going’ featuring works by Pfeifer & Kreutzer, Jan van Munster, Leslie Nagel, Jorrit Paaijmans, Julius Stahl, and Lily de Bont.
Additionally, curator Marijn Bril will present the performance program 'A system is not the sum of its parts', inspired by American systems theorist Russell L. Ackoff. Five performances spread across the city will invite visitors to explore Rotterdam with fresh eyes, addressing themes such as movement, space, language and ecology, while challenging perceptions of urban environments.
Tip: Don’t miss a guided tour of Brutus, a vintage sale featuring works by Vincent Mentzel at Weisbard, and a celebration of 25 years of Galerie VIVID.
