27 june 2021, Oscar van Gelderen
Ask an Art Collector… Tom Jonckers
What do art lovers like? Where do they buy their art and, most importantly, what do they buy? Every Monday an enthusiast tells about his or her bond with art in this section. This week it’s architect Tom Jonckers (42).
What does art mean to you?
A sense of expansion and deepening at the same time. Art brings about an enormous peace and delay. It provides a certain disconnection from time, because of its broader and deeper context. Art also provides reassurance by disconnecting expectations. Art shows the 'other side'.
Caroline Van den Eynden, A blue memory and a purple desire, 2021, DMW Gallery.
Since we have lived in a number of places around the world (Turin, Vienna, Washington DC), we regularly spent time in museums with family and visitors. Suddenly, that must have been around 2008, the idea takes hold to buy your first work. Other works will follow after that. All of sudden you realize that a collection is being created, while this was never planned in advance.”
Where do you read about the latest developments in the art world?
Especially through galleries, artists and collectors. It is always interesting to sit with them and hear what they are working on at the moment and what is coming up in terms of works, exhibitions.
Chaim van Luit, Past Present Future, 2021, tegenboschvanvreden.
Both in a museum and a gallery. But also at a collector's home. I attach great importance to the relationship between a work of art and the context in which it is displayed or placed.
How often do you buy art each year?
About ten works a year. Since I attach great importance to place / context, which probably has to do with my background as an architect, I have developed a number of works in collaboration with various artists.
Bertjan Pot, Light 67, 2019, galerie dudokdegroot.
Where do you do your buying: in a gallery, at an art fair, at an auction or online?
Mainly through the gallery. Occasionally at an art fair. And sometimes directly from the artist himself. In case the artist is represented by a gallery this will be discussed with the gallery for in situ works. I think it is very important that the artist has maximum carte blanche. You offer a platform where you do not intervene in a controlling way.
Is it important that you and your partner always agree on a purchase?
I have the advantage that I only have to decide for myself. I do like that uncompromising approach in which you don't have to check or consult.
Tom Callemin, Two Takes (stereo), 2019, tegenboschvanvreden.
Do you have a special relationship with any one gallery?
I certainly have a connection with a number of galleries. This usually has to do with the click that exists between the artists of the gallery, the shows that the gallery develops and the gallerist(s) themselves. I myself notice that I am more attracted to younger galleries.
If you had an unlimited budget, whose work would you buy?
Given an unlimited budget I would have a site-specific work done by James Turrell. The search for the right place for the work is already part of the work.
Wie zijn uw favoriete kunstenaars (op Gallery Viewer), en waarom?
The blurring from architecture to sculpture in Caroline Van den Eynden's work creates a disconnection between time and space.
Tom Callemin's photos are snapshots from a larger, elaborate performance. The image always captures the essence of that performance and invites you to further supplement it yourself.
Bertjan Pot's masks are the result of a 'failed' experiment and have since given rise to hundreds of new faces.
Joris Vanpoucke, Seascape, 2021, DMW Gallery.
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