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 Guus van Vorstenbosch (designer/owner at Gust, age 54)
What does art mean to you?
For me, art is a form of freedom, a way to get out of the everyday concrete reality and to gain experiences in a more abstract way. Art invites one to critical thinking and is a form of recording the reflection of our social consciousness and conscience.
Were you exposed to art while growing up?
I got my love for history from my father, that's how I ended up with masters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. I discovered modern art through the first wave of graffiti from the United States, where Keith Haring, as an outsider, appealed to me enormously.
Where do you read about the latest developments in the art world?
Online, television and tips from friends. I saw Ray Caesar's work with friends for the first time and that kept intriguing me - especially when I discovered that it was not drawn or painted, but made with 3D software.
Where do you prefer to look at art?
Preferably in real life, whether that is at a gallery, an art fair, in a park or a museum does not matter. ArtZuid is always a nice route to walk, but a welcome distraction during the lockdown. We have taken our children to museums, galleries and special (outdoor) exhibitions from an early age and have noticed that they are interested.
How often do you buy art each year?
I think we make about three to five purchases. This can be a unique work or an edition. The point is that the work does something to you, which can be done just as well with a photo as with a painting or sculpture.
Where do you do your buying: in a gallery, at an art fair, at an auction or online?
We like galleries, because you can chat with like-minded people and you learn a lot. While at an art fair you can check a lot of new artists and providers at the same time because of the large selection. That is why we always find the KunstRAI very interesting. We also like to look around an artist's studio.
Is it important that you and your partner always agree on a purchase?
The only criterion is that we both think it is nice / good / cool because, after all, we both have to look at it.
Do you have a special relationship with any one gallery?
Yes, that's KochxBos in Amsterdam. They always have standout work in their gallery, with Claire Partington being our favorite. The floor space of the gallery is not that big, yet you never feel to have been sold short in terms of creativity.
If you had an unlimited budget, who would you buy a work from?
The missing panel of the famous triptych "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck, was stolen from St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent in 1934. It was never found because the thief died six months later, before he could tell where he had hidden it. I think it would be wonderful to buy it back, at any price, and then give it back
Who are your favourite artists?
The large ceramic sculptures of Claire Partington - in which she mixes, for example, people from the 16th century with symbols from current urban culture - are sharp and beautifully made with an enormous eye for detail.
Bastiaan Woudt makes beautifully styled black and white photography that makes you long for a long journey, preferably back in time.
I have a soft spot for works on small panels. For example from Dennis Møgelgaard, who paints chestnuts full-size as if you had them on the table yourself.