art
amsterdam and its satellites
commentary
and images by Karin Bos
|
published
31 may 2008 Bohemian Aesthetic e-zine, Los Angeles
|
amsterdam
dispatch | volume 1 •
number 2
The latest global phenomenon has reached us: an explosion of satellite fairs during the week of the always much-anticipated Art Amsterdam.
It’s
the 24th edition of Art Amsterdam (formerly known as Kunst-Rai).
This year, there are 125 participating galleries, of which are 33
from abroad; so, as every year, despite its ambitions, Art Amsterdam
is mainly a Dutch
event. As a result, for me as a regular participant-slash-visitor,
there are no surprises, no discoveries that blow me off my feet.
Everybody knows everybody; therefore, it's more of a networking event
than an inspiring quest for the unknown. I did, however, see some
beautiful small paintings on wood by someone I didn’t know, yet:
Martin McMurray, at the booth of Gallery Nouvelle Images from The
Hague.
Next
to Art Amsterdam there’s the Temporary
Museum Amsterdam.
It’s the third edition of an imaginary museum which creates a
parallel program to that of Art Amsterdam, using the entire city as a
floor plan. To visit this ‘museum’, one might need a bicycle to
attend all 18 participating art institutes; but, at the end of the
day, exhausted visitors may crash at the Mediamatic Sleep Inn
performance, and spend the night, for free(!), on a stretcher.
One
novelty is Satellite
Station,
an offshoot fair at W139
Basement,
where seven blue-chip galleries present large scale installations.
While at Art Amsterdam most booths are stuffed with far too many
artworks that could fit in the trunk of one's car, for business
reasons, at Satellite Station, the galleries present only
non-sellable pieces. It's a welcome addition; and, hopefully, there
will be another edition next year.
Last
but not least, there’s the Kunstvlaai.
It’s the seventh edition of this alternative art fair, which looks
more like a carnival or festival. On the premises of the Westergas
factory,
75 non-commercial artists initiatives and 15 MFA schools present
non-established art. Unfortunately, most artists there decided that
the main quality of art is that it has to make noise and move. In
such cacophony, it's difficult to find high quality art, and most
participating artists are too young to have developed a unique style.
Looking
at the paintings, one can easily tell which famous artists are in
vogue at the Dutch art schools. (The Belgian
artist Luc
Tuymans
is, apparently, still hip.) But, none of the visitors do seem to mind
that, the Kunstvlaai is just a very lively and well-attended party
where all enjoy themselves, surrounded by art, drinking beer in the
sun.
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| Kunstvlaai Amsterdam 2008 |
