Against the backdrop of the Floriade, Museum van Bommel van Dam in Venlo organises the project Mapping the landscape, in which urban landscape and countryside in the (Eu)region Venlo is investigated. Eight Dutch and German artists were asked to seek inspiration from the landscape in and around Venlo and to depict striking characteristics in a surprising manner. The results can be seen in the museum from 2 September 2012 to 6 January 2013.
Eight outlooks
In the spring of 2012, eight artists initiated their exploration of elements that characterised the Limburg landscape around Venlo. This could be horticulture, the clay earth, the proximity of the border, or something else entirely. With Venlo as the central pivot, the field for investigation stretches from Arcen to Belfeld and from Grubbenvorst to over the border to Hinsbeck in Germany. The participating artists are Antoine Berghs (Geleen 1971), Paul Devens (Maastricht 1965), Sebastian Freytag (Hannover, Germany 1978), Philippine Hoegen (Kitzbühel, Austria 1970), Frank Koolen (Maastricht 1978), Heidi Linck (Breda 1978), Paulien Oltheten (Nijmegen 1982) and Kai Rheineck (Remscheid, Germany 1967).
Art in public spaces
The first part of the project took place in the months of May and June and comprised the creation of temporary works of art in the landscape itself. This varied from a tour of dilapidated glass houses by Heidi Linck to a concert of ‘found sounds’ by Paul Devens and of an interactive photo walk through the centre of Venlo with Paulien Oltheten to a lecture about the personal living environment by Kai Rheineck. All the projects emphatically incorporated space for interaction with the public. The works created on location will now be followed up in the Venlo museum.
A kaleidoscopic picture of the (Eu)region Venlo
The eight different outlooks in the exhibition Mapping the Landscape provide a kaleidoscopic view of the identity of the regional landscape. All the works are new and have been created for the exhibition with input from the public. For example, Antoine Berghs made tiny clay bowls that fit into the hands of passers-by, while Frank Koolen toured through the area with a bus full of extras to make a film; Philippine Hoegen interviewed people across the border and incorporated their stories in a video presentation while Sebastian Freytag invited people to photograph their own gardens for his project. You can watch and hear what preceded the exhibition at www.mappingthelandscape.eu
Photograph where you live and win a balloon ride for two
How do you perceive your own environment? What do you find striking or important? Answer this question through submitting a photograph and you might win a balloon ride for two! There are two categories: up to 16 years of age and 16 years and older. Every week, the top three submissions are shown on Facebook. A selection of the photographs will also be on display in the educational area in the museum. You can send your photograph to info@vanbommelvandam.nl.
Book presentation / Symposium
Throughout the project, documentation will be collected that will be used for a book that will be presented on 15 November coming. In addition to text and images about the artists’ projects, there is space for contributions about the regional landscape and the manner in which art and landscape can affect each other. The book presentation will take place during a symposium about art in public spaces.
