The ships are there, the museums not. To show that a city like Amsterdam is not only drugs, sex and rock& roll, but also has a management that can host an alive art spectacle. We combine art, fashion and trends on a spot that is mostly reserved for the open air museum which is the Unesco labeled binnenstad. There is space for sure and a worldwide focus. Many institutes: galleries, Art Amsterdaam, all the funds (Bernhard, Claus, AFK), de Appel, Paradiso, Melkweg Uitmarkt; just to mention a few. I got the idea when accompanying a paradeboat and heard the comments of the sailors who were getting bored of the Gaypride.
I use to organise the JimBeardgallery, our biggest opening party had 2000 guests and hundreds waiting outside in 2003. It was a multimediashow in Christies. Imagine : participants like Christo, Abramovich, vLamsweerde, Mediamatic, a choice of the stedelijk, etc. After the parade some ships or thei load are put up for exhibition at the building site of the Rijks, squares, gardens, parks and in the canal.
Project:
Artparade
Create on the best paradeground of europe (Amsterdam canals) a parade of wonderful ideas and visuals; for the sake of art, once a year in July.
To get art ideas of dusty corners and make it accessible to thousands
Imagine..
Put artists and art institutes to a challenge
I see it as a testing ground for the idea itself