18 february 2020, Oscar van Gelderen & Manuela Klerkx
Gijs and Angelo’s Pick…
In this section we let a selection of art lovers – from occasional buyers to art professionals – talk about their perception of art and preferences: where do they want to see art? Where do they purchase art, and above all: from which artists do they buy? Below, an interview with Gijs Stork (curator, 55) & Angelo Tromp (cultural policy advisor, 43)
What does art mean to you?
Art is everywhere, 24/7. Every job and project we have worked from the days we studied art history at the University of Amsterdam and Cultural Policy at the Erasmus University was related to the arts and crossovers between art, design, fashion and heritage.
Fabian Landewee, Military Auditorium, 2018, Upstream Gallery.
Gijs: I have always visited classical and contemporary art exhibitions with my parents and grandparents on holidays, but we also visited the the Documenta.
Angelo: I grew up between Aruba and the Netherlands and have been exposed to the arts from an early age through the work of my parents in politics - my father was director of the Ministry of Culture on the island and my mother was the Finance minister.
Wouter Paijmans, Copy (Confection Painting), 2020, Annet Gelink Gallery
Where do you get your information about the ups and downs in the art world from?
Online via email invitations, but also via Facebook and Instagram. In addition, of course, newspapers and art magazines, and still quite a lot of invitations through traditional mail. Moreover, we work together with many artists, and they are also sources of information.
Where do you prefer to see art?
We try to see as much as possible. Every moment spare time is reserved for gallery visits, Art Rotterdam, Tefaf, Unseen, and museums throughout the Netherlands. Wherever we are for work or vacation, we visit museums, galleries and international art fairs (Art Basel) but we also keep the rhythm of the Venice Biennale, Salone di Mobile, Documenta and Manifesta.
How many times a year do you buy art? Do you buy editioned work or do you prefer unique works
There is no pattern or great regularity in our purchasing policy. Suddenly there is a work we would like to have and then you have to see whether it is financially feasible. A work of art is a work of art, so it does not matter very much to us whether it is a unique work or work in circulation - as long as it appeals to us.
Niek Hendrix, Untitled, 2019, Galerie Roger Katwijk.
And where do you buy: in the gallery, at an art fair, at an auction or online?
We buy work from directly from artists, on the open days of an academy, at galleries or at a fair, but never online. We really want to see and experience a work before we decide to purchase it.
David Haines, Still life with screen, cutout, chicken legs and thighs, 2017, Upstream Gallery.
Is it important that you and your partner agree on a purchase?
We always decide together. It is not that difficult. Since we go and see so much art together, it is becomes clear very quickly what we would both like to acquire.
Is there a gallery you have a special connection with?
Oddly enough, we seem to walk along a fixed route, which includes: Upstream, Ron Mandos, Stigter Van Doesburg, Wouter van Leeuwen, Martin van Zomeren, Althuis & Hofland, Annet Gelink, Fons Welters.
Daniel Van Straalen, Cowboy 5, 2019, Galerie Stigter Van Doesburg.
A large installation by Danh Vo, a wall covered with photos by Wolfgang Tillmans, a room by Carlos Amorales, an installation by Elmgreen & Dragset and of course a performance by Tino Sehgal!
Who are your favourite artists?
Navid Nuur always surprises us with his in-depth research into material and form, and his quest for abstraction and essence.
We follow the 'Brat Pack' - Juliaan Andeweg, Daniel van Straalen and Bob Eikelboom - because we feel that they interpret the contemporary in a different way.
We are impressed by the diverse and inclusive engaged work of someone like Jan Hoek, whose work we recently saw in the 'Now Look Here' exhibition, curated by Renny Ramakers.
Jan Hoek, Mad Max Rider, 2017, Galerie Ron Mandos.
