Woody van Amen and Hidde van Schie speak to art-critic and writer Hans den Hartog Jager about their work, friendship, the New Romantic Spirit exhibition and the recently published artist’s book. A selection of unique images; performances by Woody van Amen, acting by Hidde van Schie in, amongst others, Spangen and cinematic experiments by both artists will be shown. Noor Mertens, city conservator of the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, will provide an introductory speech.
Date: wednesday 11 march, 20:00 hrs
Location: TENT, Witte de Withstraat 50 Rotterdam
Admission: €3,-
Language: Dutch
Art-critic and writer Hans den Hartog Jager (1968) has been a contributor to, amongst others, the NRC Handelsblad for quite some years. His art critiques have been bundled in Verf (2004) and Haai op sterk water (2008). He has also appeared regularly as an interviewer and reviewer on television for, amongst others, on De Avonden and Opium TV. In 2011, he published the book Het Sublieme about the downfall and rise of the perception of beauty in contemporary art. In his new book Het Streven (2014, following the Meer Licht exhibition in Museum de Fundatie, which he curated) Den Hartog Jager asks if contemporary art can improve the world.
Woody van Amen (1936) created a sensational oeuvre in a timespan of fifty years that includes paintings, sculptures, installations and film. In the mid-60’s, van Amen gained fame in the Netherlands. Having just returned from New York, and using a style in which he united icons of consumer society with popular visual culture, he instantly became the representative of Dutch Pop-Art.
Hidde van Schie (1978) graduated as a painter from the Willem de Kooning Academie in Rotterdam in 2001. He has since been working on a diverse oeuvre that consists of drawings, collages, sculptures and paintings. Besides his visual work he is a diverse musician. In 2013 he released his debut album The Mirror & The Razorblade / Dusty Diamonds Eyes as a singer-songwriter, to critical acclaim.
Noor Mertens (1984) has been working as conservator Modern and contemporary art and City collection at the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum since 2013. She additionally works part-time for the Defares collection and is a board member of the Tubelight magazine. She is also a member of the Erasmus University Art commission.