Common Spirits. Hans Lemmen and José Bedia

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Museum Het Domein proudly presents a double exhibition by Cuban-American artist José Bedia (Havana, Cuba, 1959) and Belgium-based Dutch artist Hans Lemmen (Venlo, the Netherlands 1959). The two artists share an interest in anthropology and in crossing borders between different cultures. Their work is an antidote to disenchantment in the world, and they seek to create connections between traditional cultures and contemporary society.

José Bedia grew up in Cuba and immigrated to Mexico in 1991. In 1993, he settled in Miami, where he has lived and worked since. Familiar as he is with Afro-Cuban religious traditions, much of Bedia’s work is influenced by Afro-Atlantic practices from his country of origin. He devotes equal attention to the Native American cultures of the Sioux, the Yaqui, and the Cherokee, as well as other cultures from Latin America, Australia, and Oceania. The artist explains that that his work is meant to set in motion a process of historical justice in which the periphery gains importance with respect to the center. The exhibition at Het Domein is the first substantial exhibition of Bedia’s work in the Netherlands and is also the first international survey exhibition of his installations which combine large paintings with sculptural elements.

Hans Lemmen finds inspiration for his magical-realist work close to home, during his daily walks with his dog in the ancient and hilly landscape of the Dutch-Flemish borderlands. Lemmen’s work is driven by a strong interest in archaeology and the history of the landscape. His work demonstrates a certain romanticism. During an interview, the artist explained “I remove disenchantment; I give a name to the disenchantment, I compensate for what work is lacking.” Lemmen’s work in the exhibition includes recent large-scale drawings, painted ceramics, and a sizeable new mural.

The exhibition was made possible through the cooperation of the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Special thanks to Orlando Hernández and Javier Sánchez. A four-part catalog is being published along with the exhibition and is available for purchase at the museum.

Common Spirits
Hans Lemmen and Jose Bedia