“Out with the old, welcome the new” is a saying that almost acts as a mantra in the art world. To celebrate the start of the new year, Salon Amsterdam is doing something new by putting the forgotten back in the spotlight. Ten galleries are joining forces and have selected works that have been exhibited previously or in other contexts. Together, the galleries are transforming their spaces in the Jordaan into a publicly accessible depot full of artworks ready to be (re)discovered.
The focus on everything new is logical: artists want to show what they’ve just created, and visitors want to see what’s happening right now. But what happens to the artworks after they’ve had their moment, their place in an exhibition or on the walls of an art fair? When they disappear into storage, they might lose the public’s attention, but they certainly don’t lose their value. Sometimes these works prove fundamental to an artist’s development or take on new meaning in current events.
The title Salon Amsterdam refers to the Parisian salons of the 19th century, not so much to the political aspects of these historical presentations, but rather to the way the works were displayed: on walls covered from floor to ceiling. Our joint exhibition aims to offer a similar experience of abundance. The participating galleries have delved into their depots (and collections) and are showcasing a wide selection of classic, iconic, nearly forgotten, or recently revived artworks from their exhibition history.
On Saturday 17 January, you are invited to take a tour along the ten galleries that open their doors simultaneously and toast with us to the New Year. Please join us for this festive moment and enjoy the je ne sais quoi of Salon Amsterdam.
Althuis Hofland, Caroline O’Breen, Depth of Field, Ellen de Bruijne, dudokdegroot, LANG, Stigter Van Doesburg, tegenboschvanvreden. TORCH, Wouter van Leeuwen and Martin van Zomeren