There is good news and there is sad news.
Let’s start with the good news: there is a wonderful summer show at Nouvelles Images.
It is curated by Michael Tedja (1971) and it has become a, what you might call, particularly rhythmic exhibition.
That results sometimes in some, what i would call, high density works like Carlson Hatton’s (1974) works on paper, Miek Hoekzema’s (1973) video, Radcliffe Bailey’s (1968) collages or even some colourful works by Moshekwa Langa (1975).
They are “high density” in that they have more to show in one square foot than the eye can absorb in one view.
One colour or detail will distract you from another and so make your eyes jump, sometimes from dreams to nightmares.
That in fact also happens with the whole show; it plunges you from one aspect of society into another, from Samson Kambalu’s (1975) almost meditative Boat video’s – presented as a kind of diptych – to Richard Bott’s (1972) alternative disidentified icons for different internet media and to Ronald Ophuis’ (1968) macabre paintings.
Being happy that art galleries are one of the few places without irritating background music, i think this show makes clear that there is enough music in the works themselves and the way they are selected and presented.
The sad news is that this is Nouvelles Images’ penultimate show.
The gallery will close its doors on October 1st.
It means the oldest and one of the biggest commercial galleries in the Netherlands will stop existing.
Especially for The Hague this will be a great loss as the gallery’s space makes it more like a small museum.
Sad though this is, i look back with gratitude for what Nouvelles Images has shown.
As such, the present show might be an inspiration for whatever the future will bring.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
© Villa Next Door 2018
Content of all photographs courtesy to all artists, Galerie Nouvelles Images and to all other with this show associated galleries.
Bertus Pieters