57% more visitors at contemporary art event in Amsterdam RAI
25th ART AMSTERDAM ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS
Amsterdam, 20 May 2009 - The 25th Art Amsterdam set a new record by attracting 23,982 visitors. This was no less than 57% higher than last year’s figure of 15,238. Sales were also good: in total the exhibitors notched up sales of over EUR 5 million, which represented average sales of EUR 40,331 per gallery. The collectors and art lovers who visited Art Amsterdam between 13 and 17 May were enthusiastic about the unique format, with each of the 120 galleries mounting a solo exhibition featuring the work of one artist. ‘This enabled the visitors to form an overall impression of the work of each of these artists,' explained Anneke Oele, retiring director of Art Amsterdam. ‘This was appreciated by the visitors and also worked well for the gallery owners, who generally recorded good sales. In short, Art Amsterdam was a resounding success right from the moment it was opened by Queen Beatrix and Mr Plasterk, the Education Minister.’
Satisfied gallery owners
These positive reports on the number and quality of the visitors, the format (solo exhibitions) and the good sales were confirmed by the exhibitors. Hidde van Seggelen of London was satisfied with the unique solo concept. ‘I sold a lot of the exhibits of my solo artist Andy Holden, including a large installation to a corporate collector,’ he commented. ‘But I also sold other large works to new clients; so from my perspective it was a good exhibition with a good atmosphere.' Gallery owner Rob de Vries of Haarlem sold no fewer than 28 works of his solo artist Jan Maarten Voskuil. 'Not only to existing clients but also to many new clients,’ he explained.
Roland Janssen of Gallery Willy Schoots in Eindhoven attracted much attention with his solo exhibition of the works of Armando. ‘I sold a number of works to well-known collectors,’ he said, ‘but I am also doing some interesting business with some entirely new collectors.’ The João Ferreira Gallery of Cape Town was enthusiastic about the palpable energy generated by Art Amsterdam. ‘Our works were well received by the Dutch curators and collectors, including a number of new collectors with whom I also did good business,’ the owner said. ‘This is always important at an art event.’
Winner of Thieme Art Award 2009
The Thieme Art Award, the prize for the most promising young artist, was presented to Gijs van Lith (1984, the Netherlands) of Gallery Bart during the opening of the 25th Art Amsterdam. ‘A consummate painter who has paint running through his veins!’ commented the jury, which consisted of Wim van der Beek (art critic), Marja Bosma (curator of modern art at the Central Museum Utrecht) and Han Steenbruggen (director/curator of Museum Belvédère in Heerenveen). They chose the winner from the works of five shortlisted artists selected from 60 entries. This award, which is sponsored by the Thieme Grafimedia Group, consists of the production of a catalogue of the work of Van Lith and a solo stand at Art Amsterdam 2010, at which this catalogue will be presented.
The next Art Amsterdam will be held from Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 May 2010. More information can be found at www.artamsterdam.nl.
Unique jubilee edition (Wednesday 13 to Sunday 17 May 2009)
Art Amsterdam CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH 120 solo EXHIBITIONs
All the galleries at Art Amsterdam will be staging a solo exhibition. This means that 120 artists will have solo exhibitions devoted to their work, which is unique at a contemporary art event. This is how Art Amsterdam will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the period from Wednesday 13 May to Sunday 17 May 2009. 120 galleries will display the latest developments in contemporary art at Art Amsterdam, with paintings, photos, sculptures, installations and videos. The participating galleries include all the top-flight Dutch galleries, plus 31 foreign galleries from Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Denmark, Austria, South Africa, Japan and Korea.
Unique event: 120 solos
Anneke Oele, director of Art Amsterdam, comments, ‘In this special year – the 25th edition – I have chosen this unique solo concept, which means that all 120 galleries will devote at least 25 square metres of their stand to the work of one artist. Solo presentations provide a good overall impression of the work of a particular artist and also create a sense of both tension and rest in the exhibition. This will create a splendid event consisting of 120 solo exhibitions, which is unique in the art world.’
For example, Gallery Willy Schoots will devote no less than 100 square metres to the work of Armando, and Artitled of Berghem will feature a solo of Daniel & Geo Fuchs. Koraalberg, a gallery from Antwerp, will have a solo exhibition of the work of Warre Mulder. Gallery Onrust will have a solo exhibition of Peer Veneman, Kunsthandel Rueb will feature an installation produced by the late Ritsaert ten Cate and Gallery Ferdinand van Dieten-dÉendt will feature the works of Moroccan artist Mounir Fatmi. Gallery Tanya Rumpff will stage a sole exhibition of Jurriaan Molenaar, Gallery Majke Hüsstege will feature Rozemarijn Westerink and Gallery Helga Hofman will present the works of Marliz Frencken. The German gallery Conrads will have a solo exhibition of Leo de Goede.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’s ‘Off the record’ central exhibition
When deciding on the annual municipal art purchases Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam always makes one art discipline central. This year it is photography, based on a theme conceived by guest curator Hans Aarsman. For Off the record he has invited artists to submit works made as the result of a need to record something rather than directly to serve an artistic aim. A jury chaired by Aarsman has selected the exhibits from over 470 entries. These works (photographs and video) will be on display in the central exhibition at Art Amsterdam. During Art Amsterdam, museum director Gijs van Tuyl will announce what works are to be bought for the Stedelijk Museum collection. The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication containing an essay by Aarsman. The exhibition is being co-sponsored by Accenture, a partner of Art Amsterdam, and is receiving financial support from the Municipality of Amsterdam.
Jubilee book with 50 photos of Koos Breukel
A special jubilee book to mark the 25th anniversary of Art Amsterdam is being compiled and published by Thieme Art. On the basis of 50 interviews with gallery owners, artists, collectors and others involved, Karel Ankerman and Wim van der Beek are preparing an outline of how art exhibitions in general and Art Amsterdam in particular have evolved over the past 25 years. All those interviewed have been photographed by Koos Breukel, one of the Netherlands’ best-known portrait photographers.
‘Young and Collecting’ for young, beginner collectors
Young beginner collectors will be in the spotlight even more this year: they are being invited to attend the ‘Young and Collecting’ day on Friday 15 May. 70 beginner art collectors in the 17-22 age group will be set the task of buying a work of art for the NOG collection of SNS Reaalfonds. They will be accompanied by renowned art collectors whom they can ask for advice on the subject of collecting. The day is being sponsored by SNS Reaal Fonds and is organised in cooperation with Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Temporary Art Museum: parallel programme in the city
Art Amsterdam 2009 will form the beating heart of the Amsterdam Temporary Museum from Wednesday 13 to Sunday 17 May. During this contemporary art week in Amsterdam, all visitors to Art Amsterdam will receive a passe-partout entitling them to free admission in the week of the exhibition to the leading contemporary art institutes which are taking part in the temporary museum, such as the Stedelijk Museum CS, Foam_Fotografiemuseum, De Ateliers and Huis Marseille. Each institute will organise a supporting programme or temporary exhibition or installation during Art Amsterdam.
Most promising young artist to receive the Thieme Art Award
The most promising young artist at the exhibition will receive the Thieme Art Award. This prestigious prize, which is being sponsored for the seventh time by the Thieme Grafimedia Group, consists of the production of a full-colour catalogue and a solo presentation of the artist’s work at the next Art Amsterdam. Last year’s winner – the artist Žilvinas Landzbergas, who is represented by Gallery Fons Welters – will have a solo stand featuring his work at this year’s exhibition.
Free daily tours
A tour is an excellent way of getting a good impression of the varied exhibits at Art Amsterdam. The Mondriaan Foundation is providing free tours of the exhibition from its Art Buying stand. Every visitor can report to the stand for a free guided tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition. This is given by an expert and lasts about an hour.