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André Smits - artistintheworld - A never ending art trip
For the long-term project artistintheworld, André Smits has been travelling around the world since 2008.
He photographs people from the art world (artists, gallery owners, museum directors).
Smits asks everyone he photographs to turn their back to the camera, a motif called the Rückenfigur. The partly anonymous person in the foreground invites the viewer to take a peek into his or her world. This is exactly what Smits is looking for: 'I am not a photographer, so taking portraits does not interest me.
By capturing artists from the back, the studio and thus the artistry itself comes to the fore.'
Remarkably, he does not pick the artists in advance and does not make any distinction between well-known or less well-known people.
The moment he is at his chosen destination (Tehran, Tangier, San Pedro, Kattendijke, Zaltbommel or Taipei), he often has only one or a few contacts on the spot. These initial contacts introduce him to other artists. 'My networks grow very organically, showing how the hierarchy of the art world works'.
As a concluding project, Smits creates murals in all the cities he visits of the names of the artists he photographed there. Smits calls them graphic travel diaries. 'It is wonderful to connect all the artists I have met in this way. And it is more unique than just another photo exhibition.'
The project is entering its 15th year and currently comprises some 6060 photographs.
tvdb
André Smits shoots his images quickly, without special effects and unforced. Without pigeonholing the artists, he suggests a place for them. They themselves can also pick a favourite spot and indicate in what capacity they want to be photographed. Usually, they end up standing at an appropriate distance in their own decor. A few insisted on getting out of their clothes, like Heather Hatry, who also wanted to style everything herself. Smits even had to buy flowers especially for the shoot. He prefers to take his picture without being aware of it: 'not thinking usually makes the pictures best'. The portrayed do not have to strike a pose, André Smits does not have to get them back to how they really are. A conversation he wouldn't even need to have. 'Just prod and fly on', is his motto. Naturally, conversations always arise and Smits may also get 'involved' in the other person's work. But in fact his route is separate from what is going on in art.
Small quote from the beautiful text 'Eye to eye with André Smits, Artist in the World' - 2021 - Michiel Morel - http://www.michielmorel.nl/
For the long-term project artistintheworld, André Smits has been travelling around the world since 2008.
He photographs people from the art world (artists, gallery owners, museum directors).
Smits asks everyone he photographs to turn their back to the camera, a motif called the Rückenfigur. The partly anonymous person in the foreground invites the viewer to take a peek into his or her world. This is exactly what Smits is looking for: 'I am not a photographer, so taking portraits does not interest me.
By capturing artists from the back, the studio and thus the artistry itself comes to the fore.'
Remarkably, he does not pick the artists in advance and does not make any distinction between well-known or less well-known people.
The moment he is at his chosen destination (Tehran, Tangier, San Pedro, Kattendijke, Zaltbommel or Taipei), he often has only one or a few contacts on the spot. These initial contacts introduce him to other artists. 'My networks grow very organically, showing how the hierarchy of the art world works'.
As a concluding project, Smits creates murals in all the cities he visits of the names of the artists he photographed there. Smits calls them graphic travel diaries. 'It is wonderful to connect all the artists I have met in this way. And it is more unique than just another photo exhibition.'
The project is entering its 15th year and currently comprises some 6060 photographs.
tvdb
André Smits shoots his images quickly, without special effects and unforced. Without pigeonholing the artists, he suggests a place for them. They themselves can also pick a favourite spot and indicate in what capacity they want to be photographed. Usually, they end up standing at an appropriate distance in their own decor. A few insisted on getting out of their clothes, like Heather Hatry, who also wanted to style everything herself. Smits even had to buy flowers especially for the shoot. He prefers to take his picture without being aware of it: 'not thinking usually makes the pictures best'. The portrayed do not have to strike a pose, André Smits does not have to get them back to how they really are. A conversation he wouldn't even need to have. 'Just prod and fly on', is his motto. Naturally, conversations always arise and Smits may also get 'involved' in the other person's work. But in fact his route is separate from what is going on in art.
Small quote from the beautiful text 'Eye to eye with André Smits, Artist in the World' - 2021 - Michiel Morel - http://www.michielmorel.nl/
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Artworks by André Smits
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André Smits honours local residents with artwork on Gouvernestraat | ART AND CULTURE - OPEN Rotterdam
Shows
CV
2023
> Utrecht (NL), Galerie Larik
> Gütersloh (DE), Kunstverein Gütersloh, Hé? Ho! (met Monika Dahlberg)
Tanger (MA), The Factury
Tanger (MA), Cherifa Cultural.
Rotterdam (NL), Galerie Herenplaats, Same Same But Different (met Philip Akkerman e.a.)
2022
New York (USA), JVS project space
Zundert (NL), Vincent van GoghHuis, Scary Scary Night
Zundert (NL), Vincent van GoghHuis, Dichter bij Vincent
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke Foundation, Sans Dieu, Sans Maitre, Sans Roi et Sans Droits
's Heerarendskerke (NL), Bunderkunst, AITW-HUBSA-AIR #04
Rotterdam (NL), Gouvernestraat, muurschildering
Den Haag (NL), HOK Gallery, presentatie RUW#4#5
Goes (NL), AITW-HUBSA-AIR#02, KYIV editie
2021
Tilburg (NL), KunstpodiumT, Master/Apprentice project
Amsterdam (NL), CBK Zuidoost, AIR in Zuidoost 20/21
Rotterdam (NL),, Murals Inc., H.E.L.D.E.R.H.E.I.D
Kattendijke (NL), 't Blokhuis, My Second Ruin
Kattendijke (NL), M_M_Artspace
Borgholzhausen (DE), DaunTown, AITW-HUBSA-AIR #01
Middelburg (NL), HZ University of Applied Science
Enschede (NL), Concordia
Goes (NL), Galerie van den Berge, A Frame for Substance
Rotterdam (NL), Hilton Art Lab, Get Back YOLO!
2020
Utrecht (NL), Galerie Larik
Amsterdam (NL), PUNCH!
Los Angeles (USA), Nina & Ray
Amsterdam (NL), CBK Zuidoost
Kattendijke (NL), M_M_Artspace
2019
Rotterdam (NL), Museum Boijmans, Ateliergeheimen
's Heerarendskerke (NL), Bunderkunst
Kyiv (UA), Sadek
Eindhoven (NL), T56,
Arnhem, OMSTAND, Alle Macht Aan De Kunst
Los Angeles (USA), SoLA gallery, LA edition
Antwerpen (B), Office Central Pour La Documentation Artistique Locale Et Internationale, Departement
Européen, Bureau Belge, Section Anversoise
2018
Naples (I), Saaci Gallery
Berlin (DE), Berlin Inc
Cologne (DE), ARTIST´z PUB INTERNATIONAL!, Kunstraum Christoph Wieacker, group
Rotterdam (NL), Murals.Inc
Rotterdam (NL), Monti Muur, Mural
Guttersloh (DE), Art walk
Berlijn (DE), Kosmetiksalon Babette
Middelburg (NL),, Decreet, Geef het een plek
2017
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke foundation
Goes (NL), Goes Azie
Teheran (IRAN), Drawing Museum
Beirut (LIBANON), A+Studio
Cologne (DE), Lindenstrasse, commodity exchange
Kattendijke (NL), tBlokhuis
Taipei (TAIWAN), Polymer Studios
The Hague (NL), Per van der Horst [modern_contemporary
2016
Bronx (USA), AAA3A,
Amsterdam (NL), Societeit De Kring
Bronx (USA), Bruckner Arts
Brooklyn (USA), Fuchs Projects
Middelburg (NL), Mon Capitaine
The Hague (NL), Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis (RKD)
East Jerusalem (PALESTIJNSE STAAT), Dar Isaaf Nashashibi
Marly (SWITZERLAND), APCd Fondation
Nijmegen (NL), Extrapool, Rampant Drawings
New Bedford (USA), New Bedford Art Museum, Vault Series
Groningen (NL), #WallHouse2
2015
Sydney (AUS), Factory 49
Utrecht (NL), DAK, Blind Date
Eindhoven (NL), Bureau Beukorkest, Zomerzucht
Tilburg (NL), PARK, solo
Rotterdam (NL), NL=US, Artist In The World ontmoet Egberdien van Rossum
Rotterdam (NL), Kunsthal, Do It
Rotterdam (NL), Kunsthal, Language & Art, 46e Poetry International Festival
Rotterdam (NL), Het Plafond, Language & Art, 46e Poetry International Festival, solo
Hoboken (USA), Issyra Gallery, samenwerking met Jan Henderikse
Ramallah (PALESTIJNSE STAAT), Nederlandse vertegenwoordiging bij de Palestijnse gebieden
2014
Otrabanda (CURACAO), Alma Blou Gallery,
Willemstad (CURACAO), Art2gether, mural
Haarlem (NL), Contemporay Matters,
Rotterdam (NL), RORO Museum
Rotterdam (NL), NL=US, Rotterdam
Gouda (NL), Ruimte van Rolf
Beijing (CHINA), Flicking Forehead Space
Beijing (CHINA), Red Gate Residency
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke Foundation, Curiorama
Osnabrueck (DE), Kunsthalle, 24/7
Dresden (DE), Holger John Gallery
Oranienbaum (DE), Ampelhaus, Unter Zwischen
Veldhoven (NL), De Kunstpraktijk
Rotterdam (NL), Koetshuis
New York (USA), Soapbox Gallery
New York (USA), Sometimes (Works of Art
Rotterdam (NL), De Aanschouw,
Gutersloh (DE), Wolfang Hein, mural
Rotterdam (NL), Koetshuis, mural
Utrecht (NL), DAK, Blind date
> Utrecht (NL), Galerie Larik
> Gütersloh (DE), Kunstverein Gütersloh, Hé? Ho! (met Monika Dahlberg)
Tanger (MA), The Factury
Tanger (MA), Cherifa Cultural.
Rotterdam (NL), Galerie Herenplaats, Same Same But Different (met Philip Akkerman e.a.)
2022
New York (USA), JVS project space
Zundert (NL), Vincent van GoghHuis, Scary Scary Night
Zundert (NL), Vincent van GoghHuis, Dichter bij Vincent
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke Foundation, Sans Dieu, Sans Maitre, Sans Roi et Sans Droits
's Heerarendskerke (NL), Bunderkunst, AITW-HUBSA-AIR #04
Rotterdam (NL), Gouvernestraat, muurschildering
Den Haag (NL), HOK Gallery, presentatie RUW#4#5
Goes (NL), AITW-HUBSA-AIR#02, KYIV editie
2021
Tilburg (NL), KunstpodiumT, Master/Apprentice project
Amsterdam (NL), CBK Zuidoost, AIR in Zuidoost 20/21
Rotterdam (NL),, Murals Inc., H.E.L.D.E.R.H.E.I.D
Kattendijke (NL), 't Blokhuis, My Second Ruin
Kattendijke (NL), M_M_Artspace
Borgholzhausen (DE), DaunTown, AITW-HUBSA-AIR #01
Middelburg (NL), HZ University of Applied Science
Enschede (NL), Concordia
Goes (NL), Galerie van den Berge, A Frame for Substance
Rotterdam (NL), Hilton Art Lab, Get Back YOLO!
2020
Utrecht (NL), Galerie Larik
Amsterdam (NL), PUNCH!
Los Angeles (USA), Nina & Ray
Amsterdam (NL), CBK Zuidoost
Kattendijke (NL), M_M_Artspace
2019
Rotterdam (NL), Museum Boijmans, Ateliergeheimen
's Heerarendskerke (NL), Bunderkunst
Kyiv (UA), Sadek
Eindhoven (NL), T56,
Arnhem, OMSTAND, Alle Macht Aan De Kunst
Los Angeles (USA), SoLA gallery, LA edition
Antwerpen (B), Office Central Pour La Documentation Artistique Locale Et Internationale, Departement
Européen, Bureau Belge, Section Anversoise
2018
Naples (I), Saaci Gallery
Berlin (DE), Berlin Inc
Cologne (DE), ARTIST´z PUB INTERNATIONAL!, Kunstraum Christoph Wieacker, group
Rotterdam (NL), Murals.Inc
Rotterdam (NL), Monti Muur, Mural
Guttersloh (DE), Art walk
Berlijn (DE), Kosmetiksalon Babette
Middelburg (NL),, Decreet, Geef het een plek
2017
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke foundation
Goes (NL), Goes Azie
Teheran (IRAN), Drawing Museum
Beirut (LIBANON), A+Studio
Cologne (DE), Lindenstrasse, commodity exchange
Kattendijke (NL), tBlokhuis
Taipei (TAIWAN), Polymer Studios
The Hague (NL), Per van der Horst [modern_contemporary
2016
Bronx (USA), AAA3A,
Amsterdam (NL), Societeit De Kring
Bronx (USA), Bruckner Arts
Brooklyn (USA), Fuchs Projects
Middelburg (NL), Mon Capitaine
The Hague (NL), Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis (RKD)
East Jerusalem (PALESTIJNSE STAAT), Dar Isaaf Nashashibi
Marly (SWITZERLAND), APCd Fondation
Nijmegen (NL), Extrapool, Rampant Drawings
New Bedford (USA), New Bedford Art Museum, Vault Series
Groningen (NL), #WallHouse2
2015
Sydney (AUS), Factory 49
Utrecht (NL), DAK, Blind Date
Eindhoven (NL), Bureau Beukorkest, Zomerzucht
Tilburg (NL), PARK, solo
Rotterdam (NL), NL=US, Artist In The World ontmoet Egberdien van Rossum
Rotterdam (NL), Kunsthal, Do It
Rotterdam (NL), Kunsthal, Language & Art, 46e Poetry International Festival
Rotterdam (NL), Het Plafond, Language & Art, 46e Poetry International Festival, solo
Hoboken (USA), Issyra Gallery, samenwerking met Jan Henderikse
Ramallah (PALESTIJNSE STAAT), Nederlandse vertegenwoordiging bij de Palestijnse gebieden
2014
Otrabanda (CURACAO), Alma Blou Gallery,
Willemstad (CURACAO), Art2gether, mural
Haarlem (NL), Contemporay Matters,
Rotterdam (NL), RORO Museum
Rotterdam (NL), NL=US, Rotterdam
Gouda (NL), Ruimte van Rolf
Beijing (CHINA), Flicking Forehead Space
Beijing (CHINA), Red Gate Residency
Kemzeke (BE), Verbeke Foundation, Curiorama
Osnabrueck (DE), Kunsthalle, 24/7
Dresden (DE), Holger John Gallery
Oranienbaum (DE), Ampelhaus, Unter Zwischen
Veldhoven (NL), De Kunstpraktijk
Rotterdam (NL), Koetshuis
New York (USA), Soapbox Gallery
New York (USA), Sometimes (Works of Art
Rotterdam (NL), De Aanschouw,
Gutersloh (DE), Wolfang Hein, mural
Rotterdam (NL), Koetshuis, mural
Utrecht (NL), DAK, Blind date
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