Kunstrai 2006

Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI 2006: More international than ever

The 22nd Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI will be more international than ever and looks extremely promising. Exhibition director Anneke Oele explains, ‘Not only will all the top Dutch galleries be present, but there will also be a huge increase in the international representation. The number of foreign galleries has risen to 26 (from 15 last year). They are from Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Italy. As the number of foreign artists exhibiting at Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI has also increased, the exhibition will feature the latest developments in European contemporary art. The Ateliers ‘Wild at Heart’, a presentation of young artists who operate internationally, will occupy a central place at the exhibition. The most promising young artist at the exhibition will receive the Thieme KunstRAI Prize from an expert jury. Other features of the exhibition will be the second Art Edition for Duchenne, 20 solo presentations, daily talk shows, three exhibition tours daily and a Day for Beginner Collectors.’ Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI will be held in the Parkhal (hall 8) of Amsterdam RAI from Wednesday 3 May to Sunday 7 May 2006.’

All leading galleries will be present

Anneke Oele continues, ‘As all the leading Dutch galleries will be present, we are seeking to increase the number of young, promising foreign galleries from neighbouring countries. We can now continue to build on the already impressive list of foreign exhibitors. From Belgium there will not only be Nadja Vilenne, Stella Lohaus, Annie Gentils and In Situ but also Crown Gallery of Brussels. And from Germany Christa Schuebbe and Michael Cosar will be joined by Site and Ursula Walbröl from Düsseldorf and Kuttner/Siebert from Berlin. Exhibitors from London will be Niklas von Bartha and Hidde van Seggelen. A new feature of the exhibition is that we are offering some 60 foreign art collectors the opportunity to visit the exhibition and the city of Amsterdam. We are also laying on a programme specially for foreign curators. In this way we are establishing an ever closer connection between the exhibition and Amsterdam as cultural centre. It is precisely this combination which is of importance in the further internationalisation of the exhibition. This emphasis on Amsterdam is reflected in part in our modified name: Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI, a logical consequence of the route we are taking.’

The increase in the number of foreign exhibits is also welcomed by the selection committee since this is conducive to the quality of the exhibition. According to the committee, ‘the range of galleries is now very strong, and even more than last year the emphasis is on innovative, surprising art’. The selection committee consists of Jeroen Dijkstra (Livingstone Gallery, The Hague), Antoinette de Stigter (Art Affairs, Amsterdam), Fred Wagemans (Kunstruimte Wagemans, Beesterzwaag) and Truus Gubbels (Boekman Foundation).


‘Wild at Heart’

De Ateliers will mount the ‘Wild at Heart’ exposition at Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI 2006. This consists of the work of four young artists who operate internationally and have recently completed their period of work at the institute. ‘Wild at Heart’ reflects the current urgency of four highly individual positions in contemporary art. The exhibition consists of the paintings of Yesim Akdeniz Graf, a film installation of Keren Cytter, paintings of Melissa Gordon and a video work of Gary Ward. At the exhibition there will be a catalogue containing texts about the exhibitors and photos of ex-participant Gayatri Subramanian.


Duchenne project

Another special feature will be the second Art Edition for Duchenne, an exhibition which is being arranged by Hendrik Driessen and for which he is also selecting the artists. The proceeds of the special edition will be donated in full to the Duchenne Parent Project, an organisation established and managed by parents for the purpose of speeding up research into a therapy for Duchenne’s disease. The first edition was successfully launched ten years ago. The project is the subject of enthusiastic cooperation with the Rijksakademie and Amsterdam RAI.


Solos

Solo presentations give a good impression of the work of the artist concerned and also serve as oases of calm in the exhibition hall. Twenty galleries will stage a solo presentation this year. They include Ferdinand van Dieten with Henk Visch, Phoebus with Pjotr Müller, Maria Chailloux with Lara de Moor and De Praktijk with Wouter van Riessen.


Day for Beginner Collectors

The highly successful ‘Day for Beginner Collectors’ will be held once again. Some one hundred beginner collectors will be invited to spend Friday 5 May at Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI. They will be accompanied by renowned art collectors whom they can ask for advice on the subject of collecting.


Thieme KunstRAI Prize

The Thieme KunstRAI Prize for the most promising young artist is being organised for the fourth time. The prize is made available by the Thieme Grafimedia Group and consists of the production of a catalogue of the work of the winning artist and a solo presentation of his or her work at the next Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI. Last year’s winner was Jasper de Beijer of Galerie Nouvelles Images, whose work will be presented at a solo stand at this year’s exhibition.