27/3/2009
Gil & Moti
't Gemaal, Rotterdam
Available For You - Rotterdam. A long-term project by Israeli-Dutch artist duo with prior episodes in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Amsterdam. In these cities Gil & Moti helped out in shops, babysat children or were asked to leave, while casually capturing a portrait of an Arab community. The artists are available 24 hours a day free of charge in South Rotterdam, a culturally diverse district whose residents are predominantly people of immigrant backgrounds.
TENT. presents the first TENT. project in the new exhibition space ’t Gemaal on the Afrikaanderplein in South Rotterdam. Available For You is a long-term project by Israeli-Dutch artist duo Gil & Moti with prior episodes in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Amsterdam. In these cities Gil & Moti helped out in shops, babysat children or were asked to leave, while casually capturing a portrait of an Arab community. The artists are available 24 hours a day free of charge in South Rotterdam, a culturally diverse district whose residents are predominantly people of immigrant backgrounds.
The material they collected ‘on’ South, supplemented by videos, photos and drawings from previous editions is presented in ’t Gemaal. Video books of their encounters with Nasser, Linda and Hannah from Copenhagen, Joussef from Amsterdam and the residents of South sketch a portrait of day-to-day and existential worries. Gil & Moti, who have already been living and working in (South) Rotterdam for over ten years, see their project as a genuine attempt by two Israeli-Dutch artists to reach out to their Arab neighbours and reduce large macro-political issues to a micro level. By placing personal experience above collective assumptions, Available For You poses the question of what it means to form a community, who is included in it, and which opinions play a central role. The exhibition is accompanied by a publication in collaboration with Kunsthallen Nikolaj, Copenhagen.
On three Sundays in April and May, Gil & Moti are serving Shakshuka during the Israeli breakfasts; informal meetings with local residents, art lovers and a special guest, with two artists frying eggs in the background.
TENT., The Historical Museum Rotterdam and Kosmopolis Rotterdam have joined forces for two years starting January 2009 to stage exhibitions in ‘t Gemaal at the Afrikaanderplein in the Rotterdam district of Feijenoord. This new cultural platform for South Rotterdam will be specifically dedicated to this changing city district in the Netherlands and aims to highlight its cultural dimension. The programme is supported by Pact op Zuid and housing corporation Vestia.
Press information
For image material, interviews and press questions please contact Josje Stoel, communication and events at: com.tent@cbk.rotterdam.nl, +31 (0) 10 413 54 98.
TENT.Events
Sun 05.04, 19.04 and 03.05 [12.00-14.00 hrs]: Israeli Breakfast with Special Guests.
On Sunday 3 May the Israeli Breakfast is co-organized by Kosmopolis Rotterdam.
’t Gemaal, Pretorialaan 141, Rotterdam
Opening Saturday 28 March at 16.00 hrs in ’t Gemaal, Rotterdam
’t Gemaal
Pretorialaan 141 - 3072 EL Rotterdam
Open: Wednesday – Sunday 12.00 – 17.00 hrs
Open on Friday 10 April (Good Friday) and Sunday 12 April. ’t Gemaal is closed on the Queen’s Birthday.