SOME THINGS HIDDEN is an exhibition about hiding as a way of a staying alive, which I co-curated with artist Charlott Markus. The two-fold exhibition takes place at Castrum Peregrini, with in-situ works and performances, and at Framer Framed, with an extensive group exhibition.
Castrum Peregrini
The first part of the exhibition takes place at Castrum Peregrini, a former WWII hiding place on Herengracht in the historic centre of Amsterdam and currently a cultural institution that links history to current social issues. Especially for this location seven artists present new or existing works:
Alexis Blake (US, 1981)
Sara Blokland (NL, 1969)
Zhana Ivanova (BG, 1977)
Charlott Markus (SE, 1974)
Shana Moulton (US, 1976)
Femmy Otten (NL, 1981)
Marijn Ottenhof (NL, 1985)
The exhibition allows the visitor to reflect upon questions such as: What does ‘hiding’ mean today? What threats do we have to hide from? What things do we hide from ourselves? And what are the possibilities of hiding in our current, highly-digitized world? According to the English poet and author David Whyte, ‘hiding’ is necessary in order to protect ourselves from misunderstandings, oppression and control by others. “Hiding is a way of staying alive” – this multi-layered idea forms the core of the exhibition.
Framer Framed
The second part will be on view at Framer Framed in Amsterdam from 18 January to 11 March 2018. In addition to works of the above-mentioned artists, this exhibition contains works by:
Hélène Amouzou (TG, 1969)
Lynn Hershman Leeson (US, 1941)
Bertien van Manen (NL, 1942)
Cauleen Smith (US, 1957)
Batia Suter (CH, 1967)
At Castrum Peregrini, emphasis is placed on new performances and in-situ works, presented in the original studio of Gisèle, artist and founder of Castrum Peregrini. At Framer Framed, the performances will get a physical form and the exhibition is further completed by spatial works, video installations and photography. Here, the ‘hidden’ is placed in another social context: What stories get less attention and are thus ‘hidden’ in society? What parts of our history are not told? Together, the exhibitions offer a range of female perspectives and reflections on the phenomenon of ‘hiding’.
During Amsterdam Art Weekend, there is a public programme at Castrum Peregrini with artist talks and performative ‘gestures’.
Sat 18 Nov 16:30
Opening with introduction by Charlott Markus and Nina Folkersma
Fri 24 Nov 15:30
Artist Talk with Sara Blokland and Femmy Otten, moderated by Oscar van den Boogaard
Sat 25 Nov 13:00
Performative ‘gestures’ by Alexis Blake and Marijn Ottenhof
……………………………………………
Some Things Hidden is part of The Female Perspective year programme 2017, curated by Nina Folkersma. The programme previously featured: Reasonable Doubt by Mieke Bal; Artists weekend Women and resistance with a.o. Ronit Porat and Pieter Paul Pothoven.
Coming up: Public talk by Katerina Gregos (8 Dec); Artists weekend with Aimée Zito Lema and Renee Turner (15-17 Dec); Publication The Female Perspective with contributions by a.o. Bianca Stigter, Adeola Enigbokan, Patricia Kaersenhout and Christel Vesters, design by Atelier Roosje Klap, in collaboration with Mister Motley (Jan 2018).
The Female Perspective is made possible by the Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst and Mondriaan Fonds.
