Art of Darkness
We from Honorable People are very fond of openings. First there’s the free drinks – although we advice everyone to stay clear of the red wine – which in times of crisis is a true blessing. Secondly we feel good when we do something that involves us having to be social and mingle instead of hiding in the DJ booth with headphones on and barely speaking to anyone (this might also be struck and replaced by ‘getting shitfaced beyond decency and drooling on complete strangers while slurring inaudible sweet nothings’). Thirdly we confess we like art. With a capital A. But so far we’ve missed all the big exhibitions we wanted to go see (Pipilotti and Vibskov) this year. Which is why openings of friends and friends of friends is often the only way to get us some decent art-food for the brain. It also helps if the Art to be seen involves starkly designed invites and uneasiness in the work itself. We’re suckers for a nice Universe type and subliminal satanism.
Anyhoo this ranting just serves to lure you all to the following vernisages:
Thursday May 2007 // Offspring 2009
De Ateliers is an independent artists’ institute which is run by visual artists. It focuses on the artistic development of young, talented artists from within the Netherlands and abroad. Offspring 2009 is the forth in a series of exhibitions organized by De Ateliers each year in May. The show includes work by twelve young visual artists who are concluding their two year working period at the post graduate studio.
Saturday May 9 // Darkness Visible
Serieuze Zaken Studioos presents the exhibition by one of our favorite Amsterdam Swedes and WESC activists Pär Strömberg – Darkness Visible. The title derives from John Milton’s description of hell in the epic poem Paradise Lost and is also the title of William Styrons’ memoir of madness that has inspired Pär Strömberg’s work during the last 10 years since his graduation at the Rietveld Academy. His works are a registration of the landscapes of his native country Sweden, both physical and psychological. Refering to the title of the show, Strömberg is influenced by the mysteries of the occult. His work reflects the dark in a way that we see it illuminated, sometimes by unnatural and, sometimes by natural light. Lately Strömberg has been working in Sweden and in Los Angeles, first at Raid as artist in Residence. He also had group shows with Robert Berman Gallery and Sixspace.
Serieuze Zaken Studioos
Lauriergracht 96, Amsterdam
opening may 9th from 4:00pm til 7:00pm
