calendario eventi  :: 

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24/1/2013

Five exhibitions

Foam Photography Museum, Amsterdam

Primrose - Russian Colour Photography
25 January – 3 April 2013

Curated by Olga Sviblova and Elena Misalandi

The exhibition Primrose - Russian Colour Photography takes place as part of Netherlands-Russia 2013. The title refers to the primrose flower, used metaphorically here to represent the many colours in which it appears during early spring. Primrose -Russian Colour Photography presents a retrospective of the various attempts in Russia to produce coloured photographic images.

This process began in the early 1850s, almost simultaneously with the discovery of the new medium itself. The colouring technique, based on the traditional methods of craftsmen who added colour into a certain contour design, has determined a whole independent trend in the history of photography in Russia, from 'postcard' landscapes and portraits to Soviet propaganda and reportage photography.

The use of colour in Russia stems from the early 1850s and practically coincides with the invention of the medium itself. The term colour photography is slightly disingenuous, since at first it referred to a toning technique in which black and white photographs were painted by hand. Traditionally this technique was used by specialized tradesmen who added colour to the photographs according to certain methods and within the contours of the image.

This technique became so popular that it started a trend in and of itself and to a large extent determined the appearance and aesthetics of colour photography in Russia. Initially used especially for portraits, picturalist landscapes and nudes, it later also found favour with avant-garde artists. Interestingly enough these aesthetics also formed the starting point for Soviet propaganda and for portraits, political leaders and reportage.

Primrose - Russian Colour Photography can be viewed as a journey through various techniques and genres, meanings and messages, mass practices and individual experiments. The exhibition contains works by renowned photographers and artists such as Sergey Produkin-Gorsky, Ivan Shagin, Dmitry Baltermants and Robert Diament. But is also shows unique photos of Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stephanova, and recent works from the famous Luriki series by Boris Mikhailov, in which he mocked the visual culture of the Soviet propaganda.

Netherlands-Russia 2013
Primrose - Russian Colour Photography is organised as part of Netherlands-Russia 2013 by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Moscow City Government, Moscow City Culture Department and the Moscow House of Photography Museum.

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WassinkLundgren - One Group Show
25 January – 17 March 2013

Foam starts 2013 with One Group Show, the first major solo exhibition by Dutch born duo, WassinkLundgren. This exhibition will present a broad overview of their work, including projects shown for the first time. The work of WassinkLundgren develops from small observations or humorous twists of situations from everyday life. Their starting point is always a social interest in the world around them, but equally interesting to them is how the medium of photography can deform reality.

WassinkLundgren playfully subvert some of the unwritten rules of the medium. As in Tokyo Tokyo, a series of diptychs in which the decisive moment is approached in a lighthearted way. Or Empty Bottles, which catches 24 Chinese people as they scavenge bottles placed by the photographers in various locations. Their approach could be called 'conceptual documentary', where repetition, playfulness, investigating the medium of photography and collaboration are all important.

WassinkLundgren consists of Thijs groot Wassink (1981) and Ruben Lundgren (1983). Both graduated in 2005 from the photography department of the School of Arts in Utrecht. During the last year of this course they decided to work in collaboration. Subsequently, Thijs groot Wassink completed his Master Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins in London and Ruben Lundgren received his Master in Photography at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. The duo has had several group and solo exhibitions in The Netherlands and abroad. WassinkLundgren first exhibited at Foam in 2007.

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Jan Versweyveld - inbetweens - toneelgroep amsterdam
25 January – 17 March 2013

The Amsterdam cultural institutions Foam and the Toneelgroep Amsterdam together present the exhibition 'inbetweens' by Jan Versweyveld. Versweyveld has been scenographer since 2001 and in-house photographer since 2005 of the Netherlands' largest repertory theatre company, Toneelgroep Amsterdam. The exhibition at Foam is part of Toneelgroep Amsterdam's jubilee year celebrating its 25th anniversary.

For Foam, Versweyveld has selected work that is a major departure from conventional theatre photography. For the first time in his career, the spotlight will be on Versweyveld's unique double role as scenographer and chronicler of Toneelgroep Amsterdam. In line with his views on scenographic transparency, he shows unguarded moments as only he can capture them: before and after a rehearsal, or from a viewpoint that the audience would never be able to see. In more that 40 never-before-shown images, the 'inbetweens' exhibition unapologetically lays bare the unpredictability and the secrets of the theatre.

Due to the unique position held by Jan Versweyveld as scenographer and house photographer, he is involved in creating the theatre productions from the very beginning. He is perpetually present at the rehearsals, takes pictures for hours, and is able to get very close to the actors. Versweyveld thus moves through an area where other photographers don't usually go. It's not unusual for him to take pictures from backstage, in the middle of a scene or even to go beyond it.

He is fascinated by the vulnerability of the actors - how they live and work in the spaces he has designed, as well as how they prepare, their concentration, the moments when they step out of their role, their doubt, their exposure of themselves. It's no longer possible to tell from the photos whether they have anything to do with the theatre at all - whether you are looking at a real bedroom or at an underground car park. You can't tell whether you are witnessing a real marriage crisis or whether it's 'just' theatre.

Biography

Jan Versweyveld (1958) has been the in-house designer for Toneelgroep Amsterdam repertory theatre company since 2001. He is head of scenography (works include Angels in America, Kruistochten, Het temmen van de Feeks, La voix humaine, Opening Night, Romeinse tragedies, de Russen!, Teorema and De Vrek) and is responsible for the graphic design. Since 2005, Versweyveld has also provided photographs for the productions. Jan Versweyveld has also worked as a guest lecturer at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and co-founded the scenography studies programme in Antwerp. He has designed scenery and lighting for a variety of theatre productions.

This exhibition has received support from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds and the Van Meeuwen Kan Fonds.

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Foam 3h: Jan Hoek - Me & My Models
25 January – 20 March 2013

Foam proudly presents the first 3h exhibition of the new year, Me & My Models, by Jan Hoek. Jan Hoek has photographed amateur models, mentally ill homeless people in Africa, a girl with no arms and legs, a heroin addict who dreams of being a model, or people he has simply found in advertisements on the internet. The photo shoot is never what he expected, model and photographer always have different expectations. The model actually wants sex while Jan Hoek wants to shoot the dog. The model tries to be as glamorous as possible, while Jan wants to picture the decay. Photographing is not just about the image but also the relationship between the photographer and the model. How far can you go with your models? In the accompanying film, Me & My Models, Jan talks about the nasty, funny, painful or touching things that happen around photographing people.

"I believe there is always a certain degree of ethics involved in photography. It is almost impossible to take photographs of people without consciously, or unconsciously, crossing boundaries and with things happening that you don't want or expect. I feel this is often covered up in photography, while I would like to show it ... "

Jan Hoek (1984) is an artist and writer. At the age of 12 he published his first text. He wrote for Spunk, Mister Motley, ELLE girl, Club Donny, NRC Handelsblad, nrc.next, Parool, L'GAY, PSY and Vice. At the age of 24 Jan Hoek started at the Image and Language department at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. In 2012 he graduated with the film Me & My Models.

This exhibition has been made possible by Van Bijlevelt Stichting and the Gieskes-Strijbis Fund.

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&Foam launches new theme: Fashion &Foam
10 January - 17 March 2013

In January &Foam opened Fashion &Foam: a unique combination of photography and fashion. For this edition &Foam presents the project MOAM, in wich big names and young talent in photography and design come together in one exhibition. Inprired by iconic images of Anton Corbijnk Erwin Olaf and Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin these artists have made new images. MOAM is initiative of cultural brander, curator and even creative Martijn Nekoui. Foam Editions, Foam’s print gallery, is offering limited edition work as part of Fashion &Foam’s MOAM project.
During Fashion &Foam the selection of items in &Foam will all be geared to the fashion theme.

Image: Jan Versweyveld, Amsterdam 2010

Communications department +31 20 5516500 foam@foam.org

Foam
Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam
Hours: daily 10 am - 6 pm, Thurs/Fri 10 am - 9 pm.
Tickets: € 8,75.

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