28 december 2020, Oscar van Gelderen & Manuela Klerkx
Ask an Art Collector... Jorien Ceelen
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 Jorien Ceelen (independent project manager in arts and culture, age 27)
What does art mean to you?
Art is part of life, whether you like it or not: it is hard to escape. At times art can be reassuring and sometimes it’s confronting. It is different every day and, with a little luck, it never gets boring. Having art around the house made it a bit easier to stare at the walls during the lockdown.
Cleo Goossens, Desert Gold I, 2018, Galerie Fleur & Wouter.
Were you exposed to art while growing up?
I am a farmer's daughter, so the connection with art may not be very obvious. I owe most of my interest in art and culture to my parents. From an early age we regularly went to museums and my parents taught me to look with an open mind and to remain curious.
Where do you read about the latest developments in the art world?
I am fortunate that through my work - I supervise projects and work for a major corporate collection - I actually spend all day working with art and the art world. This gives me the opportunity to visit may fairs, graduation shows and artist studios.
Charlotte Dumas, Yuzu and Urara, Higashi, Okinawa, 2017, andriesse eyck galerie.
I like to view art online. You can see that great strides have been made with Viewing Rooms in this time, but this too cannot yet match the real-life experience. I enjoy art in a museum setting just as much as art in a gallery or at a fair.
How often do you buy art each year?
I usually make a plan in January, which is often stranded after Art Rotterdam (in February). So I don't really have a fixed number, to the dismay of my friend, because I've broken my "this is the last one for this year" promise several times.
Koen Taselaar, The Opinionated Aquarium, 2020, Galerie Cokkie Snoei.
Where do you do your buying: in a gallery, at an art fair, at an auction or online?
I purchased most of my collection from a gallery. This year, for the first time, I bought a painting at a foreign gallery that I couldn't see in real life beforehand.
Cathrin Hoffmann, Hello Distraction My Old Friend, 2020, Galerie Ron Mandos.
Is it important that you and your partner always agree on a purchase?
My boyfriend studies photography at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, so he’ll advise on photography. Besides that, it is really my party and my collection. I always thought that I would buy a designer bag with my first salary, but it turned out to be a painting by Floor van het Nederend.
Do you have a special relationship with any one gallery?
I always like to visit Galerie Fleur & Wouter. They support many young artists, which is very important to me. For the same reason I also go to Logman Gallery in Utrecht. I also like to visiting tegenboschvanvreden. Besides being very nice people, they always have beautiful exhibitions where I would always prefer to pack and take everything with me. I also find the concept of Marian Cramer Projects - she installs art in her living room - inspiring.
Johan Kleinjan, Tourist Trap, 2020, Galerie Fleur & Wouter.
If you had an unlimited budget, who would you buy a work from?
Cathrin Hoffmann would be on top of my list, I find her works so fascinating and she only gets better. A mural by Thomas Trum is also high on my wish list. Collecting video art also seems very cool to me.
Who are your favourite artists?
Cleo Goossens' photos are personal and radiate tranquility without becoming boring.
Catharin Hoffmann: Again, fascinating works.
Sam Andrea makes ridiculously beautiful and good paintings.
Sam Andrea, Geest verschijning in Barca, 2018, Galerie Vriend van Bavink.
