Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen - Artistic journey of discovery into the past, present and future of the Port of Rotterdam

Portscapes
30 January - 25 April 2010

Opening: 5 February 2010 at
20.00 hours

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Museumpark 18-20
NL-3015 CX Rotterdam
http://www.portscapes.nl


Jan Dibbets
6 hours Tide Object with Correction of Perspective, 2009
Photo: Paloma Polo

Artistic journey of discovery into the past, present and future of the Port of Rotterdam.

Organized by SKOR (Foundation Art and Public Space) in cooperation with Port of Rotterdam Authority and Latitudes, Barcelona

Portscapes is a series of newly commissioned art projects focusing on the construction of Maasvlakte 2, a massive land supplementation project in the North Sea, encompassing 2000 hectares. Ten (inter)national artists (and duo's) were invited to reflect on the port, its function and its expansion throughout 2009. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is exhibiting ten art projects that emerged from this process, in an eye-catching exhibition.

Final results
The launch of Portscapes took place twelve months ago, early one Sunday morning on the virgin beaches of the Maasvlakte. On that occasion, with an excavator and camera, Jan Dibbets created a new version of his now classic work of art 12 Hours Tide Object With Correction of Perspective (1969). The other invited artists then also sought inspiration in the scale and social, economic and ecological impact of the port area. Now on display at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is work by Lara Almarcegui (Spain/Netherlands), Bik Van der Pol (Netherlands), Jan Dibbets (Netherlands), Marjolijn Dijkman (Netherlands), Rob Hamelijnck and Nienke Terpsma (Netherlands), Ilana Halperin (US/Scotland), Christina Hemauer and Roman Keller and (Switzerland), Paulien Oltheten (Netherlands), Jorge Satorre (Mexico) and Hans Schabus (Austria).

Initiative
Portscapes was developed on the initiative of the Port of Rotterdam Authority by SKOR (Foundation Art and Public Space) and was curated by Latitudes, Barcelona.

New world
It is unique for artists to be involved in a project like Maasvlakte 2, at such an early stage. The various works of art visualise the fascinating and massively proportioned world of the port of Rotterdam, and bring to life a new piece of land. In the exhibition, photographic and video works, slideshows, sound recordings, collages and objects will all be on display. One of the objects in the exhibition is the small wooden boat on board of which Hans Schabus sailed into the port for his photograph Europahaven, Rotterdam, 17 juni 2009. The radio interviews with biologists, artists and writers broadcast over a three-week period from a container by Nienke Terpsma and Rob Hamelijnck can be listened to, and the project in which Lara Almarcegui charted out the wasteland sites around the city and the Maasvlakte, is presented in a series of slides and a freely-distributed newspaper.

Containers
As well as the artists, the designers of the exhibition itself, Overtreders W, were inspired by the port. They have created semi-transparent display structures for the museum's Richard Serra Hall, using industrial materials based on the format of cargo containers.

Publication
Portscapes is accompanied by a joint publication by SKOR and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. This boxed publication designed by Ben Laloua/Didier Pascal, contains a 'cahier' with essays alongside diverse contributions by the artists. The publication is available at the museum shop at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen or can be ordered via SKOR.

Mail to: info@skor.nl or call +31(0)20-672 25 25. A special edition is also available including a DVD of the film by Jan Dibbets.

Press
Nienke van Beers
Tel: +31(0)20- 672 25 25
nvanbeers@skor.nl

Address
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen:
Museumpark 18-20
NL-3015 CX Rotterdam

http://www.portscapes.nl