Last weekend eight students of the Royal Academy showed some of their works. As part of their curriculum they have to organize a short running show in their third year. They did so in Quartair, curated by Marijke Appelman and aptly called Spring not Summer.
Of course such a show can only give you a snap shot of what is going on in the laboratory of art. Generally the show was promising, but with still a way to go in how to intrigue the viewer and how to manipulate context in a show in general and a group show in particular.
Gitte Svendsen is probing into space, colour and shape. Quite basic elements so to say. Her work got the space it needed in the show. But it also needs (mental) space to find a balance in improvised and fixed composition and its meaning.
Freerk Wilbers had his shop where he presented hand printed wrapping paper. Prints are made with real flowers. A good point to start from.
Nina Markkula made an installation using over-the-top glitzy colours and textures; another promising starting point in which material experimenting and meaning come together.
Ai Hashimoto has already clearly made some giant steps with her installation, set up in the small room, with a combination of tangible, physical objects and light , shadow and movie.
Pris Roos is a capable portrait painter, balancing in between expression and composition.
Henriette von Muenchhausen, like Hashimoto, also seems to have made already big strides.
Iris van der Graaf dropped a mikado set and reconstructed it with a second set. The same idea of coincidence is extant in the presentation of her works on paper.
Boukje Ypma gives a reminiscence to this country of the eternal potato.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
Bertus Pieters
Villa Next Door 