Quality, Politics and Society. The impressive canvases of Lemmens consist mainly of written texts. Through these texts Lemmens attempts to reflect on the function of ideology, religion, politics, art and economy in our society.
'Quality, Politics and Society: the masterpieces of Pieter Lemmens' Opening
on the 23rd of January - closing and auction on the 6th of March 2011
QUALITY, POLITICS and SOCIETY Sunday 23 January – Sunday 6 March 2011
Three years have passed since Pieter Lemmens announced his imaginary solo
exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam through a major poster
campaign.
Now Nieuw Dakota presents the first overview of the ironic and
engaged art of this elusive artist. The impressive canvases of Lemmens
consist mainly of written texts. Through these texts Lemmens attempts to
reflect on the function of ideology, religion, politics, art and economy
in our society. The fictitious business QP&S (Quality, Politics and
Society) plays an important role in these reflections. Beside this
leading role of subject-matter, the formal qualities of the canvases are
powerful: the typical handwriting, the intersecting spots and shapes and
the materiality of the canvas, the paint and epoxy, provide Lemmens's
puzzling works with an unexpected but overwhelming aesthetic quality.
While the exhibition is on view, Lemmens will work on a floor drawing to
mutually connect the Masterpieces. Hereby a total art work will be
developed; perhaps this will be the ultimate Masterpiece. Lemmens will
frequently work during opening hours on completing his floor drawing. His
intention is to actively involve the visitors in his creative process in
order to create a dialogue between his art, the visitors and himself.
Thus the public will very directly influence matter and form of his floor
drawing.
During the closing of the exhibition, on the 6th of March, de
floor drawing will be divided into pieces and auctioned. This will be an
opportunity for our visitors to acquire a fragment of a real Masterpiece.
The exhibition is made possible by art lovers and collectors of the art
works of Pieter Lemmens who bought 'shares' in the business of Quality,
Politics and Society. These shares consist of a unique certificate
produced by Lemmens, a small painting and a floor piece. The shares are
available at Nieuw Dakota. Nieuw Dakota is a new, international space
for contemporary art in Amsterdam. Nieuw Dakota's aim is to bring together
important players in the artworld such as galleries, art institutions,
collectors, curators and artists through changing exhibitions and events
for the general public. Nieuw Dakota provides a platform for new
collaborations in order to let the visual art scene in the Netherlands
flourish.
Nieuw Dakota
Ms. van Riemsdijkweg 41b - Amsterdam
Opening hours): Thursday and Friday 11:00-19:00h
Saturday and Sunday 11:00-17:00h