Marijke van Warmerdam
10 Oct - 19 Dec 2009
MARIJKE VAN WARMERDAM
De klap voorbij
10 oktober t/m 19 december 2009
O P E N I N G: zaterdag 10 oktober 17.00 - 20.00 uur
Breaking through an idea.
A glimpse into the studio of an artist often leads to a feeling of intimacy and voyeurism. A brief insight is given into how the work is made. But it is glimpse that seldom adds anything essential to the work. That is a strong argument for not divulging any of the trade secrets and preparations of the artist.
Neither does the knowledge that the artist has sustained a mental blow add anything to the work. What is the observer supposed to do with the personal affairs of the maker if they produce meanings that are not pertinent? Nevertheless, art is also therapy. That is nothing new. It's something we have to deal with throughout the day, but in art, ridding oneself of anguish can be freely practised and in contemporary art can even be chosen as a theme. Marijke van Warmerdam has always been averse to that, in order to avoid misinterpretations in the reception of a work. They distract from the issue.
In the exhibition 'Past the blow' a personal experience of the artist gave rise to a new series of works in which a mental blow is taken in a more universal manner. With this, Marijke van Warmerdam breaks with the idea that the personal aspect of her art is irrelevant.
Marijke van Warmerdam is particularly well known for her film loops, which radiate a crystal clear simplicity. In her exhibition 'Past the blow' she presents a series of paintings on photos and canvas. Her film loops are characterized by visual reduction, velocity, repetition and simplicity, and these traits can again be found here in her first exhibition of paintings. In the front space, the same photo is relentlessly repeated five times and these photos, which are painted with squeegee and broom, dominate the space. In the second part of the exhibition canvases with blossom branches are shown, which evoke an unmistakable atmosphere of springtime and which are also provided with a mere streak or brush of paint. How simple may painting become? An answer is left to the observer.
Born in The Netherlands in 1959, Marijke van Warmerdam lives and works in Amsterdam and for the past few years also in Karlsruhe. She was represented in the biennials of Sydney, Berlin, Kwangju and Venice, among others. In 1997 she participated in Documenta X in Kassel. She has had retrospective exhibitions in the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Migros Museum in Zurich, ICA in Boston, Muhka in Antwerp, MAC in Marseille, The Fruitmarket in Edinburgh and IKON in Birmingham.
Issue # 6 of 'CUT - magazine about art' will be dedicated entirely to the work of Marijke van Warmerdam and the magazine will be launched in the gallery on Saturday 10 October.
De klap voorbij
10 oktober t/m 19 december 2009
O P E N I N G: zaterdag 10 oktober 17.00 - 20.00 uur
Breaking through an idea.
A glimpse into the studio of an artist often leads to a feeling of intimacy and voyeurism. A brief insight is given into how the work is made. But it is glimpse that seldom adds anything essential to the work. That is a strong argument for not divulging any of the trade secrets and preparations of the artist.
Neither does the knowledge that the artist has sustained a mental blow add anything to the work. What is the observer supposed to do with the personal affairs of the maker if they produce meanings that are not pertinent? Nevertheless, art is also therapy. That is nothing new. It's something we have to deal with throughout the day, but in art, ridding oneself of anguish can be freely practised and in contemporary art can even be chosen as a theme. Marijke van Warmerdam has always been averse to that, in order to avoid misinterpretations in the reception of a work. They distract from the issue.
In the exhibition 'Past the blow' a personal experience of the artist gave rise to a new series of works in which a mental blow is taken in a more universal manner. With this, Marijke van Warmerdam breaks with the idea that the personal aspect of her art is irrelevant.
Marijke van Warmerdam is particularly well known for her film loops, which radiate a crystal clear simplicity. In her exhibition 'Past the blow' she presents a series of paintings on photos and canvas. Her film loops are characterized by visual reduction, velocity, repetition and simplicity, and these traits can again be found here in her first exhibition of paintings. In the front space, the same photo is relentlessly repeated five times and these photos, which are painted with squeegee and broom, dominate the space. In the second part of the exhibition canvases with blossom branches are shown, which evoke an unmistakable atmosphere of springtime and which are also provided with a mere streak or brush of paint. How simple may painting become? An answer is left to the observer.
Born in The Netherlands in 1959, Marijke van Warmerdam lives and works in Amsterdam and for the past few years also in Karlsruhe. She was represented in the biennials of Sydney, Berlin, Kwangju and Venice, among others. In 1997 she participated in Documenta X in Kassel. She has had retrospective exhibitions in the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Migros Museum in Zurich, ICA in Boston, Muhka in Antwerp, MAC in Marseille, The Fruitmarket in Edinburgh and IKON in Birmingham.
Issue # 6 of 'CUT - magazine about art' will be dedicated entirely to the work of Marijke van Warmerdam and the magazine will be launched in the gallery on Saturday 10 October.