Museum Beelden aan Zee (Sculptures by the Sea) is one of the most interesting museums in The Hague and indeed in the country, for its robust architecture, its position along the coast, its Institute for Sculpture and above all – of course – for its interesting exhibitions of modern, postmodern and contemporary sculpture, objects and installations.
At present the Museum’s summer exhibition Vormidable with contemporary sculpture from Flanders is still on show, though its satellite exhibitions at Lange Voorhout (for pictures click here) and in A Gallery Named Sue (for pictures click here; for full review in Dutch click here) have finished already some weeks ago.
It is impossible to cover all aspects of this wonderful exhibition, so I just show you a few random pictures, but it would be better to take a look for yourself. Both well known and lesser known artists are democratically brought together in the great room of the museum. In that collection almost legendary Panamarenko is more or less hors concours, even with these modest models on show.
Honoré d’O’s works (also quite small ones in this show) make a good counterpoint to Panamarenko’s.
There is some imposing architecture reduced to an introvert object by Renato Nicolodi and
there are some works by Johan Tahon, both raw and angelic,
two sensitive sculptural installations by Sofie Muller and
there is this water carrier by Philip Aguirre y Otegui. These four artists were presented at the Lange Voorhout as well.
Do think before you take a seat on a bench by Caspar Berger!
Sven ‘t Jolle presents these figures who are playing Mens erger je niet (Hey, don’t fret). Or are the figures becoming the game?
Nadia Naveau gives some samples of her work in which there is a strong connection with antiquity and post-postmodernity.
Her work is one of the great discoveries of the show.
Tinka Pittoors’ installation fits much better into this presentation than her other sculpture did at the Lange Voorhout.
On the other hand this sculpture by Peter Rogiers on its own seems to be a bit out of context.
If you like intricate 3D design and printing with a bit of a spooky outlook the works of Nick Ervinck will surely impress you. It doesn’t really convince me.
Far simpler as a concept but much more significant are Eva De Leener’s sculptures.
One of my personal favourites is Patrick Van Caeckenbergh and his Cradle hits the mark again in more than one way.
Works by Anton Cotteleer were quite omnipresent in The Hague this summer as, apart from here, they were also on show at A Gallery Named Sue and Nouvelles Images gallery (click here for the pictures).
Peter Buggenhout specializes in sculptures that refuse to take a clear shape. They seem to defy all theories about the regularity of nature.
Of course Berlinde De Bruyckere’s work is also present. It is shown in rhyme with Buggenhout’s sculptures.
Wim Delvoye’s hilarious Rose des vents is present on one of the terraces of the museum.
However, the sad low point of the show is the presentation of Jan Fabre, who seems to be talking on and on with his shiny beetles, while he has nothing to say but boring clichés.
A smaller room of the museum shows models of more or less monumental works and projects.
Amongst others by Wim Delvoye,
Patrick Van Caeckenbergh,
Renato Nicolodi and
Ruben Bellinkx, who also showed an intriguing installation this summer at A Gallery Named Sue.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
Bertus Pieters
Villa Next Door 