Axel van der Kraan has a less than optimistic view of humans and civilisation. He is fascinated by power and bureaucracy and the absurdity of routines and rules that sometimes seem to oppress people more than help them. The artist sees the world as an “unfocused, absurd, and aimless battleground”. His sculptures, however, are characterised by a high degree of inventiveness in their construction and use of materials. New, recognisable images are created from discarded household appliances ...

The Dutch entry for the 60th edition of La Biennale di Venezia is provided by artist collective Cercle d'Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC) together with artist Renzo Martens and curator Hicham Khalidi. The exhibition at the Dutch Pavilion in the Giardini is twinned with a presentation at the White Cube in Lusanga (DRC) and is part of CATPC’s ongoing commitment to reclaim land to reintroduce biodiversity, regenerate the soil and provide sustenance for the community in Con...

From founder of conceptual art and disseminator of left-radical literature to specialist in historical textiles, Seth Siegelaub's unbridled energy and curiosity, both literally and figuratively, is not only illustrative of the open-mindedness of art practice but also encourages reflection and research. In 31 encounters with artists and other experts – writers, designers, administrators, and thinkers – editors Lucas Hoeben and Eva Pel introduce Siegelaub’s history as a legacy. This publi...

Ontdek de Laurenskerk als baken van kunstenaars. De Zandstraatbuurt als het Montmartre van Rotterdam, totdat de sloophamer kwam. Beleef hoe de havens onstuimig groeiden en het mastenwoud verandert in een wolkendek van rookpluimen. Ervaar het onvermijdelijke bombardement. En de wederopbouw. De schilders van Rotterdam legden het vast.

Van Verschuier tot Jongkind en De Lorme tot Langendijk. Van Richters tot Van Mastenbroek, Toorop, Gubbels en Van Lieshout. Dit boek gaat niet over Pieter de Hoog...

After Meijer's first artist's book about plants in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, 'The MoMA Plant Collection' includes over 400 photographs and drawings of exhibitions at the New York Institution, in which plants feature among the works. Inge Meijer wants to render museum plants visible once again, to make us aware of their real as well as metaphorical importance. Beyond her desire for institutional critique, she is also part of a new moment between nature and culture.

Go to the theatre with Rembrandt and discover how painters and theatre-makers in seventeenth-century Amsterdam were inspired by each other.

During Rembrandt’s lifetime, theatre played an increasingly important role in the everyday lives of Amsterdam’s citizens. Rembrandt, too, saw theatre and was inspired by it. He used various directing techniques to create images that tell fascinating and convincing stories: from facial expressions and hand gestures to costumes and accessories. He also ...

Een nieuw perspectief op Breitners schildercarrière.

George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923) staat bekend als ‘de schilder van Amsterdam’ en ‘Nederlands impressionist’. Maar dekken deze kwalificaties de lading? Kennen we Breitner wel echt? In Breitner. Schilderbeest keren we aan de hand van zes thema’s – oefenen, figuur, licht/donker, lijn, beweging en kleur – terug naar de oerkunstenaar die Breitner is.

Breitners onderwerpkeuze blijkt voor hem een middel om te experimenteren met ...

De magie van fotorealisme

Eind jaren zestig ontstaat in Amerika een fascinerende kunststroming: fotorealisme. Jonge kunstenaars zetten zich af tegen de heersende mode van abstracte en conceptuele kunst. Tot in het kleinste detail leggen ze alledaagse voorwerpen en taferelen vast. Als bron voor hun enorme schilderijen gebruiken ze foto’s. Als een van de eersten maken zij zo de impact van beeldcultuur tot onderwerp van hun schilderkunst.

Schilderijen van spiegelende etalageruiten, close-ups v...