Today we’re doing it for the second time: an opening with as much art as possible all at once.
There’s always a lot of art everywhere in our building. When I think about it, it comes out of every nook and cranny. I’ve been accused of having no clear policy, and that’s true. My starting point is simple: I only buy or show something if I’m sold on it at first sight. It’s subjective, and whatever grabs me becomes part of the collection. I change what’s on display regularly, but I stay true to myself.
Still, things often go wrong, and this time is no exception. It began with my announcement that we would create large combined exhibitions. After the first one, you actually have to plan the second. After DDW, we suddenly had almost nothing. Fortunately, the beautiful “household wind-up mobiles” by Johannes Langkamp remained in our La Petite Galerie. My good friend Marc Mulders suggested organising an exhibition with STHOM. STHOM turned out to be a wonderfully charming, hand-drawn man, something you can feel and see in his work. He suggested combining his exhibition in the Wonder Room with YorkOne, “more than a graffiti artist.” Meeting Arjan (YorkOne) was just as special. Besides being an artist, he also works in mental healthcare. It is enviable: two elevated professions.
But then we still had to fill the temporary gallery. I text Tom Claassen with “a possibly annoying question,” asking if he could realise an exhibition on short notice. He sends me a series of images of available works, along with the comment “very annoying.” Tom is able to do it and proposes involving his partner Cecile Verwaaijen as well. He has never exhibited with her before. They have been at it for days and are doing whatever they feel like. The sculptures drift through the showroom, and anything that doesn’t fit is pushed aside.
In summary: there is a lot to see, the energy is intense, and my influence is fortunately quite limited. I simply enjoy what the artists create here and the fact that they give so much of their time to show their soul and devotion. None of this is as self-evident as it may seem.
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