Hermitage Amsterdam offers a wonderful exhibition called CLASSIC BEAUTIES. ARTISTS, ITALY AND THE ESTHETIC IDEALS OF THE 18TH CENTURY. The exhibition shows 18th and 19th century art, inspired by finds from excavations in Italy during the same period. Though just one floor, there are over sixty works of art to admire and some are simply…
For this exhibition, artists hail from both within The Netherlands and far beyond, some are well-established artists while others have only recently graduated from an art academy. Still, the artists’ average age is only about 35.
The Mauritshuis museum offers a unique treat this summer. Visitors get the chance to witness a restoration of a painting. For three months, starting Thursday 14th of June, they can see experts working on the museum’s oldest painting.
Creten’s work is colourful and cryptic, yet engages with themes of nature and sexuality. The pieces range from gigantic but simple, bird-shaped structures to sculptures with intricate flower patterns that reveal the artist’s fingerprints having carefully worked the clay.
Red light has been flooding through De Wallen for decades, but this summer it won’t just come from the windows of rooms rented out by prostitutes. Amsterdam’s oldest church has added even more red light to the already illuminated district.
Much of the material has been lent to the museum by private collector Bert Sliggers who became increasingly interested in the relationship between porn and power that he observed as his collection grew . . .
The exhibition traces their unstoppable progress over twenty five years. In answer to the credit crunch they created their Chainsaw Massacre pieces – huge tulle dresses with giant holes cut into them . . .
Personally, I quite enjoyed this exhibition but I can understand if some people turned their noses up at it. There is something about monumental size turds that does make you think – and probably your eyes water.
