Inge Aanstoot
Gema Alba
Fatima Barznge
Willem Besselink
Marie Civikov
Remko van Drongelen
Laurien Dumbar
Jeffrey Dunsbergen
Marie Louise Elshout
Bert Frings
Serge Game
Edwin Jans
Hidde van Schie
Isolde Venrooy
Katrijn Verstegen
The exhibition examines the rediscovery of painting as a 'new medium' in the digital age. Narrative and reproducibility are the foundations upon which the digital age is built. Moving images are repeated endlessly on the Internet, YouTube, smartphone, iPhone, iPad, Ebook. And yet, at this of all times a large number of artists appear to be captivated by painting, by the unique and unrepeatable moment at which the paint touches the canvas.
Inge Aanstoot, Gema Alba, Fatima Barznge, Willem Besselink, Marie Civikov, Remko van
Drongelen, Laurien Dumbar, Jeffrey Dunsbergen, Marie Louise Elshout, Bert Frings,
Serge Game, Edwin Jans, Hidde van Schie, Isolde Venrooy, Katrijn Verstegen
Every Picture Tells a Story examines the rediscovery of painting as a ‘new medium’ in the
digital age. Narrative and reproducibility are the foundations upon which the digital age is
built.
Moving images are repeated endlessly on the Internet, YouTube, smartphone, iPhone,
iPad, Ebook. And yet, at this of all times a large number of artists appear to be captivated by
painting, by the unique and unrepeatable moment at which the paint touches the canvas.
The group exhibition Every Picture Tells A Story aims to bring to light the renewed passion for
painting among an expanding group of artists. Fifteen artists are presented, who initially seem to
have little in common. They differ in style, intention, age and background. Nonetheless, they are
united in their quest for a reformulation of the basic principles of painting.
No matter how
autonomous, how abstract or indeed figurative: each work presents views and opinions on the
importance of the unique gesture, the emphasis on the physical experience, the potential of
craftsmanship, the power of virtuosity. The painters rarely still see their work as part of a
movement, development or group. They don’t regard it as specifically ‘Rotterdam-style’, Dutch,
‘abstract’ or ‘expressionist’ painting. Rather, they seem to consider it their individual obligation
to return the painting to a position of freedom and independence; and where it can function
unencumbered by social, political and art-historical ballast. The fundamentals of painting are of
primary importance: craftsmanship, authenticity, virtuosity.
Jeffrey Dunsbergen examines, with intelligent humour, classic painterly questions such as the
relationship between depth and the flat surface, the realistic and imaginary depiction. Isolde
Venrooij seeks the boundaries between decoration and figuration in her smooth-surfaced
canvases. The paintings by Hidde van Schie, Katrijn Verstegen and Bert Frings demonstrate a
large degree of freedom in material use and composition, in which emotions and experiences
find expression in emblematic imagery. The fascination with the metier is conspicuous. In the
organically constructed canvases, they divulge their story in a virtuoso painting technique.
Marie
Louise Elshout considers her small and precise paintings as ‘memorabilia’, reminders of bygone
days. Edwin Jans’s fluently painted landscapes are based on images found in the media and
recollections of his journeys. Fatima Barznge weaves memories of her past in Iraq into finely
painted canvases. The subjects in the portraits by Remko van Drongelen have an unreal,
hallucinatory appearance. Marie Civikov and Inge Aanstoot reflect on the profusion of
contemporary visual culture in a hyper-realistic style.Underlying principles such as form, colour,
rhythm and contrast are made visible in the abstract compositions by Willem Besselink, Laurien
Dumbar, Gema Alba and Serge Game.
The paintings are the result of form studies in various
other media. Willem Besselink collects (biographical) data which he incorporates into
performances, installations and paintings. Laurien Dumbar bases her work on clay studies, Serge
Game relates his work to forms in Japanese and American comics. Gema Alba develops form
studies on her computer before painting them.
EVENTS
Sat 5 March 2011, 20.00-02.00h – Museumnacht
Painting By Numbers, For The Time Being II - Daan den Houter
Artist Daan den Houter presents an installation in which the public has the power to influence
the image in the painting. With the push of a button the visitor decides whether to pour a layer
of white latex paint over the work.
Thu 17 March 2011, 20.00h - Paint It Back
Why Are Artists Painting (again)?
Debate on the urgency of painting in the digital age.
Thu 7 April 2011, 20.00h – The Bigger Splash
Films, documentaries and biopics on the lives of painters.
Thu 21 April 2011, 20.00h – State-of-the-Art
Opinions on the future of art in Rotterdam.
The politicians appear to be developing virtually no future perspective for art. How does art itself
formulate this? A series of discussions, YouTube testimonials and motivational essays by key
cultural figures in Rotterdam.
EDUCATION
Paint Shop Pro – Hidde van Schie
Artist Hidde van Schie works with pupils in a project studio on a series of monumental pieces in
which the focus is on painting as a form of creative thinking. What makes painting a
contemporary medium?
Editorial note, not for publication: for more information please contact Carolien van Hooijdonk, communication and
marketing TENT via com.tent@cbk.rotterdam.nl or +31 (0)10 413 54 98.
Image: Marie Civikov - REX - 2009 (200x280cm)
Opening: 24 February 2011, 20.00hrs
Tent
Witte de Withstraat 50, Rotterdam
Opening hours thue - sun, 11 - 18.00 hrs