Meanwhile … Group exhibition Running Thread (Wakaman) in C&H art space
Four ‘Wakamans‘ are at it again! Remy Jungerman, Iris Kensmil, Charl Landvreugd and Kurt Nahar all participate in the group exhibition Running Thread (Wakaman) which opened December 17 2011 in C&H art space in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. All four of them participated in the art project Wakaman – Drawing lines connecting dots, which resulted in a group exhibition in Paramaribo, Suriname in 2008, and a book as well. At the time of the 2008 exhibition Marcel Pinas and Ori Plet were participating as well.
Remy Jungerman was born in Moengo, Suriname and has lived in Amsterdam since 1990. His work is intrinsically related to his Surinamese origins and is centered on global citizenship in today’s society. Jungerman uses collages, sculptures and installations to show cultural critique(s) of the local and the global, the internal and the
external. Traditional materials and objects are placed in different contexts that challenge the established notions of their representation within Western society. Jungerman gets his inspiration from Afro-religious elements of the traditional Maroon culture in Suriname and the Diaspora. At the same time he is also inspired by Western trends in art and modern communication technology. He first studied art at the Academy for Higher Arts and Cultural Studies, Paramaribo
(Suriname). After moving to Amsterdam in 1990 he studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy. Since his first group exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Jungerman has participated in several solo and group exhibitions worldwide.
Creating an image of the (historical) presence of black people is the drive behind all the works of Iris Kensmil. Although she has born in Amsterdam, Kensmil lived part of her youth in Suriname. As she states: “Because of my black skin, I can’t take my participation in the European Culture for granted the way white people think they can do (Frantz Fanon). From 2004 on she makes works that commemorate historical moments from struggle for the emancipation of black people. Kensmil draws on personal memories as well as a range of historical textual and visual material. She selects this materials on base of how she perceives what is the history of a Black European, a history that is paradoxically non-European. So most of her works are about the African-American movements or about Suriname, beside the “global” works of free imagination, e.g. about Ragga. Born in 1970, Iris Kensmil lives and works in Amsterdam. She graduates in the Minerva Groningen. In 2004 she won the Wim Izaks Prize, in 2009/2010 she did a residency at the ISCP, New York.
Charl Landvreugd was born in Suriname and raised in Rotterdam. Aesthetically, politically, theoretically as well as practically, black is the base color in his practice. Landvreugd has studied at the Goldsmiths College (London) and Columbia University (NYC), and continued his investigations of black and Blackness. He explores the plurality of black hues and advocates for distinctions in black diversity. Although Landvreugd works as a visual artist, mainly sculpture, installation and video, he has also a wide experience as a curator and a writer, working in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States. Charl Landvreugd uses Black as an instrument to speak off our communal efforts to bridge cultural gaps worldwide. Since 2009, Landvreugd has already shown his work in New York, London and Amsterdam, and also is his home country, Suriname, along with some of the other artists presented in this exhibition at C&H art space. Despite of his short career, this young artist has already developed three artist residencies, participated in several publications and curated exhibitions with other artists, all related to black-Dutch artists in Dutch society.
Kurt Nahar defines his art works as a contribution to raising the consciousness of the general public and to encourage discussions around important, sometimes forgotten subjects. The Dada movement is clearly present in his work and Nahar’s work can be seen as an act of protest and contestation for social and political circumstances in Suriname, where he lives. Nahar’s works are a combination of common objects, photographs, film, painting,poems and furniture all together. The visual chaos, full of provocative symbolisms, tends to confront the viewer’s with social issues, of which the artist thinks that they should be brought out to public discussion. Kurt Nahar, 1972, was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, where he lives and works. Between 1993-1997 he studies at the Nola Hatterman Institute (Art School), and in 2000 Nahar attended the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts,and in 2009 Research residency at the Rijksacademie. He has exhibited mostly between Suriname and The Netherlands.
What: Remy Jungerman, Iris Kensmil, Charl Landvreugd and Kurt Nahar, group exhibition Running Thread (Wakaman)
When: December 17 2011-February 04 2012. Opening: Saturday December 17 2011, from 15:00-19:00 hrs. Gallery opening hours: Thu-Sat 11:00-18:00 hrs
Where: C&H art space, 2nd Kostverlorenkade 50, 1053 SB Amsterdam (corner Jan Hanzenstraat)
Meanwhile … What you don’t see is what you won’t get
Born in Den Helder, but a descendant from Surinamese parents, Patricia Kaersenhout developed an artistic journey in which she investigates her Surinamese background in relation to her upbringing in West European culture. The political thread in Patricia Kaersenhouts work raises questions About the African Diaspora’s movements and its relation to feminism, sexuality, racism and the history of slavery. As an artist, I’m in a constant state of becoming, she writes.
For this exhibition with the title: What you don’t see is what you won’t get, Patricia Kaersenhout delivers a new series of her most recent work, that represents a new transition phase in the her career as an artist. In this new work, loaded with a noir drama, Patricia Kaersenhout emphasizes sexual attitudes and historical neglect by black and white oppressors. Inspired by Bell Hooks’ book, Ain’t I a woman, she investigates the historical (non)position of black females. Since black women are mostly ignored in white written history she plays with the fact that being invisible gives one the freedom to question a so called truth and juice it up with fiction. This is directly related to her own oral history tradition where there is never a clear line between facts and fiction. With the title of the show the artists challenges the viewer to look with close attention in order not to miss anything. While watching the viewer looks at the subject that has been historically ignored and invisible, the black female. To understand the work the viewer has to watch with attention otherwise the essence won’t reveal itself.
Patricia Kaersenhout has studied social studies at the Amstelhorn Amsterdam and Fine Arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Fund for the Arts and the CBK Zuidoost (Centre for Visual Arts) commissioned Kaersenhout in 2003 to develop a work of art in connection with 140 years abolition in the Netherlands and
Suriname. She has participated in exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad and her work has been published in several publications. In 2008 she participated in Wakaman – Drawing lines, connecting dots, which resulted in a group exhibition in Suriname and a book. Recently, Kaersenhout was invited by TENT. in Rotterdam to organize a debate together with artist Charl Landvreugd titled Am I Black Enough for you in connection with the exhibition Paramaribo Perspectives. In 2010 her work was part of Wrestling with the image: Caribbean Interventions, curated by Christopher Cozier and Tatiana Flores, Art museum of the Americas, Washington D.C.. In 2011, the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts commissioned Patricia Kaersenhout for a research and a photo project in Suriname.
From: Het Parool, December 31 2011
What: Patricia Kaersenhout, What you don’t see is what you won’t get, solo-exhibition
When: December 17 2011-February 04 2012. Opening: Saturday December 17 2011, from 15:00-19:00 hrs. Gallery opening hours: Thu-Sat 11:00-18:00 hrs
Where: C & H art space, 2nd Kostverlorenkade 50, 1053 SB Amsterdam (corner Jan Hanzenstraat)
Must do, must see, must enjoy! Artmarket Paramaribo 2011 – Updated!
The second edition, with even more participants … Please take some time to visit this very DIFFERENT Artmarket, where makers, sellers and buyers celebrate creativity. Words used by the people behind the Artmarket-idea to describe what it is that makes the Artmarket so special: cool fresh dope … off span tranga … tjading … dope ass …
Find out for yourself what you think about this event and let us know!
I went yesterday to the first evening and it was great! Inspiring to see all these creative minds and what they produce! Good vibes, definitely.
When: December 16, 17 & 18 2011; 17:00-23:00 hrs
Where: De Hal, Grote Combéweg 45, Paramaribo
Who: Arti Abhelakh, Ken Doorson, Jantine Van Den Driest, Sri Irodikromo, Gloria Jap, Ellen Ligteringen, Earl de Sanders, Purcy Tjin, Sirano Zalman, RFT, Bejules, Shoot Filmcompany, Bakafisie, Space is the Place, Zoetzuur, Sushi Chris and many others
TEXT Marieke Visser, 2011
Opening on Friday, December 9th: EXPERIENCES a solo exhibition by artist Henna Brunings
Henna Brunings does not exhibit often, but when she does, she goes all out! EXPERIENCES are what Henna thrives on, what inspire her and what she translates unto her canvas. And just like her experiences in life, in more than 30 years in the graphic design business and 10 years as a visual artist, the paintings presented in her latest exhibition are colorful, diverse and full of energy. And so when Henna Brunings does have an exhibition, you never know what to expect. And knowing or seeing one work of art from the collection in no way prepares you for all there will be to see at the exhibition. So give in to the anticipation and visit EXPERIENCES the new solo exhibition of Henna Brunings in De Hal, Grote Combéweg 45.
The official opening is on Friday the 9th of December and the exhibition is open to the public on Saturday December 10th from 7:00-9:00 pm and on Sunday December 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm.
The invitation includes the following text:
Welcome to EXPERIENCES, the third solo-exhibition in the painting career of Henna Brunings, exactly ten years after she first got started. In approximately fifty surprisingly varied works of art in acrylics and mixed media on canvas as well as on paper, the artist presents the collection she has been working on for well over a year.
Henna Brunings is a woman of strong opinions, undeniable artistic talent and the critical eye of an experienced ‘creative professional’. She is a graphic designer and owner of her own design office Art Design from which for over 30 years now, she has been creating countless graphical productions for clients in several branches, with logo’s and house styles being her specialty. When after a busy week filled with obligations and assignments, Henna closes the doors of her design offices, she spends her weekends upstairs in her art studio and does what she enjoys most. She paints, for that is her passion!
Henna does not have one single style. Her work does however attest of a great love for the experiment, for a harmonious though dynamic interplay between color and form, composition and texture. No message or sensational and emotional stories to tell; no drama involving sorrow or an unhappy childhood, but just the intuitive creations of a confident and talented woman who expresses herself freely and without limitations with her paints and brushes on canvas. What this actually leads to is something that will without a doubt, surprise and fascinate all visitors at this new exhibition! Other than what people are used to seeing at most solo exhibitions, this new collection of Henna Brunings shows great variety in style, composition and inspiration. Figuration, abstraction, realism, form, technique, texture and an explosion of color, lure the eye from one corner to another; from one wall to the other! Where to begin? One thing is certain: Art lovers will have quite a lot to take in during their visit to this exhibition.
A selection of paintings from Experiences , the 2011 solo exhibition of Henna Brunings:
Four years after her latest exhibition Henna starts her new collection with, remarkably enough, a painting inspired by the chaotic jumble of cords next to her computer (Spaghetti). And from that moment on the creative juices haven’t stopped flowing! With renewed inspiration she eagerly gets to work on her new collection. Her work can impossibly be categorized under one specific theme, but there are some similarities and sometimes also certain recognizable features. The canvas is wetted with water, dripping paint is strategically guided along the canvas, circles and lines are stamped across the surface, while numbers and letters add, as is usual for Henna, the finishing touch to many of the compositions.
She gets inspired by van Gogh, and paints a series of dreamy, impressionistic looking paintings in surprising color combinations, named ‘Dré ten’ (dry season). In yet another series she creates compositions with mythological figures and symbols reminiscent of ancient petroglyphs. And then the graphical designer in her prompts the creation of a modern and playful series of graphical prints and paintings that remind somewhat of the popular pop art creations of Britto. Birds and mosquitoes are a reminder of earlier exhibitions, but this time around Henna is mainly driven by the urge work in a more abstract style. She plays with shapes and adds texture with among other things, sand and the cardboard from her wine cartons. She creates nuances of light and dark and a balance between carefully worked out details and quieter backgrounds. Not quickly or with uncomplicated ease, but step by step, according to a meticulous process. Layer goes on top of layer, image on top of image, until the final result is satisfactory. Quite unintentionally an image might sometimes come to the foreground that causes people to make certain associations, or rather urges the viewer to search for some meaning within the depth of its layers. This keeps the audience enthralled! But not just the audience; the artist herself is equally fascinated by all that her work conjures up in others.
But Henna Brunings is her own and probably most stern art critic. She has, in part also because of her profession, a keen eye and the pile of rejected painted canvases lying on a discarded heap to the side, are the silent witnesses of her straightforward self-criticism. Even so, the artist still seeks the critical opinions of her original instructor George Struikelblok and of renowned colleague Rinaldo Klas. Aside from positive feedback they also provide valuable tips. Then the collection is finally completed. In a striking display, the streamlined and dynamic, the modern and traditional, the abstract and realistic, are arranged daringly side by side and across from one another.
Henna looks upon the result of ten years as a visual artist with great satisfaction. And with even greater enthusiasm she looks forward to many more years; many more days and hours of each week, spent in creative collaboration with her paints and brushes in a world enriched by ‘EXPERIENCES’.
What: Solo exhibition ‘EXPERIENCES’ by Henna Brunings
Where: De Hal, Grote Combéweg 45
When: Opening night Friday December 9th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm / Saturday December 10th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm / Sunday December 11th 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
