ART Amsterdam 2006

The 22nd Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI is fully booked, with 125 galleries, and looks extremely promising. Art lovers and collectors will be welcome at this showcase for contemporary art from Wednesday evening 3 May to Sunday 7 May. Director Anneke Oele says, ‘Not only are all the top Dutch galleries present, but there has also been a huge increase in the international representation. This year there are 26 foreign galleries. In addition to this internationalisation, the exhibition also has a stronger connection with Amsterdam as a city of culture. This is reflected in the multi-year project known as Temporary Museum Amsterdam. De Ateliers Art Institute is mounting a central exposition at Art Amsterdam known as ‘Wild at Heart’. There will also be the new Art Edition for Duchenne (featuring the photographic work of 16 artists), 20 solo presentations, daily talk shows, three exhibition tours daily and a Day for Beginner Collectors. The most promising young artist at the exhibition will receive the Thieme Art Award. The Gran Pavese Parade with flags of international artists provides a surprising entrance to the exhibition. Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI will be opened by the Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen in the Parkhal of Amsterdam RAI on Wednesday evening 3 May.

FIVE YOUNG ARTISTS SHORTLISTED FOR THIEME ART AWARD

Who is the most promising young artist? A professional jury has shortlisted five artists for the Thieme Art Award (previously known as the Thieme KunstRAI Award): Elena Beelaerts (the Netherlands 1971, Galerie Tanya Rumpff), Marco van Duyvendijk (the Netherlands 1974, Cokkie Snoei), Frank Jebe (Germany 1974, Galerie Röhr + Ripken), Jen Liu (New York 1976, Upstream Gallery) and Martina Sauter (Germany 1974, Kunstraum Marion Scharmann). The jury is chaired by Hendrik Driessen (director of Museum De Pont in Tilburg). Its other members are Jhim Lamoree (publicist and art critic) and Natasja Kensmil (artist). They have assessed 64 entries. The winner will be announced during the opening of Art Amsterdam/ KunstRAI on Wednesday evening 3 May.

Confusion, uncertainty and fear ‘Art reflects what is going on in society. In the works submitted by the young artists you see confusion, uncertainty and fear,’ said the jury, after completing its assessment. All 126 galleries taking part in Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI could nominate promising young artists under the age of 35. The jury report continued, ‘Gallery owners are exhibiting at Art Amsterdam artists who represent all kinds of art movements. This is reflected in the entries we have assessed. The emphasis was on painting and photography. The work of the five shortlisted artists gives a good impression of the range of contemporary art at present.’

The work of these five artists is on display at a special stand at Art Amsterdam.

Presentation of award on 3 May Which of the shortlisted artists is the winner will be announced during the official opening of Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening 3 May. This will be followed by the presentation of the prize made available by the Thieme Grafimedia Group. The prize consists of the production of a catalogue of the work of the winning artist and a solo presentation of his or her work at the next Art Amsterdam. Last year’s winner was Jasper de Beijer of Galerie Nouvelles Images, whose work will be presented at a solo stand at this year’s exhibition.

Amsterdam, April 2006

Pressetext

22nd Art Amsterdam/KunstRAI 2006

Thieme Art Award 2006:
shortlisted: Elena Beelaerts, Marco van Duyvendijk, Frank Jebe, Jen Liu, Martina Sauter
Preisträgerin: Martina Sauter (Kunstraum Marion Scharmann)