So much art from such a small country! says the curator of the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). In the past year, the leading New York museum has set up several exhibitions of Dutch artists.
A few rooms in the immensely big Museum of Modern Art have been dedicated to the exhibition 'In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art, 1960-1976'. A work by Jan Dibbets hangs near the entrance.
MoMA’s Swiss curator Christophe Cherix, who put together the exhibition, explains: "This work consists of 80 photographs, all together in just a single frame. Each photograph was taken from the same spot in his home, looking in the direction of the garden. The idea, the concept behind this work is to document an entire day by taking a photograph every eight minutes.”
Four exhibitions
The Museum of Modern Art, is one of the world’s largest and most famous modern art museums. In September of last year, the exhibition 'Van Gogh and the Colours of the Night', opened at the MoMA, including work by crowd-puller Vincent van Gogh.
It was followed by contemporary artist Marlene Dumas, succeeded by Aernout Mik’s videos, and finally the exhibition on Amsterdam conceptual art, which ended just recently.
Accidental series
"Indeed, it coincides with the commemoration of the Dutch discovery of Manhattan, but it’s really just a beautiful coincidence” curator Cherix says. "All these exhibitions do show how interesting and challenging Dutch artists can be. It is an amazing feat for such a small country: so many great artists in such a short period."
'So special'
The regular visitors of the MoMA in particular have noticed the ‘series’ of Dutch art. Take, for example, one elderly couple who are frequent visitors at the MoMa. “We came to see the Van Gogh paintings three times. The first time just the two of us, later we took our grandchildren and we also came here with a couple of friends from Toronto.” The couple were also enthusiastic about Aernout Mik’s video installations and was about to go and see the conceptual art exhibition.
Listen to the report from the MoMA:
Artists do travel
However interesting he may find Dutch art, curator Christophe Cherix says artists are not limited by geographic boundaries. "Twentieth century artists travelled a lot, from one movement to the next, from one art scene to the next. Van Gogh spent much time in France. And the Amsterdam conceptual art scene also included foreigners. Of course you can speak of Dutch art, but we put the work on display because it’s good."
Diversity
Visitors to the MoMA react to the Dutch art in different ways. A Swiss woman says: “It is interesting to see Dutch culture brought together here”.
And you even meet people from Bergeijk, the hometown of artist Jan Dibbets. "It’s really cool to see. In particular the work with those photos of an entire day. And if it’s on display here, it’s got to be good."
IN & OUT Gilbert & George (photo: Philip Smet)
Stedelijk Museum poster at the MoMA (photo: Philip Smet)
MoMA's huge building lies in the heart of Manhattan. (photo: Philip Smet)
'Series D', a work by the German Charlotte Posenenske. (photo: Philip Smet)
Jan Dibbets' The Shortest Day At My House in Amsterdam (photo: Philip Smet)
Stedelijk Museum poster (photo: Philip Smet)
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