Katja11 trains, 4 towns and 3 days
Manifesta 7 Professional preview , July 17-19
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People waiting for Manifesta shuttle bus. In vain.-
Buses in South Tyrol are much less reliable than trains.
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Manifesta founder and director Hedwig Fijen is happy that it's finally happening.-
Hedwig slept less than 4 hours the night before.
-Actually we have 4 biennials opening these days, in 4 different cities along a 130 km long line. -
Van Abbe museum director Charles Esche is watching the videos very attentively.-
Concentration requires a lot of courage with the extreme heat and the lack of air in the former Post and Communication building in Rovereto.
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Even for Dutch artist Praneet Soi it feels too warm today.-
In spite of the fact that he spends half of his time in India nowadays.
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Co-curator of Manifesta 4 and Moscow biennial 1. Yara was born in Moscow and speak better Russian than the Russians themselves. She seems very skeptical about Manifesta 7...
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Manifesta's Saskia van der Kroef with Kai van Hasselt from Shinsekai Analysis.-
Since her student times, Saskia has been a faithful Manifesta employee. Kai is helping architects with their projects abroad, especially in Japan. He doesn't dare to go to Russia yet, but we assured him he should try it one day.
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Fleur van Muiswinkel is a nice girl with red hair.-
That's why we took this picture of her. Fleur used to work for W139 in Amsterdam; she lives in Norway now. Fleur likes skiing in spite of breaking her bodyparts while doing it occasionally.
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At the Trento opening party, all alcohol was finished after 45 min.-
They can drink, those professionals...
Instead of a political hot spot, the one and only European nomadic biennial takes place in a tourist paradise of Trentino/South Tyrol this time. Many Dutch people went there to escape from the rain at home...
Katja
AndreiRaving in Rags
@ ikikik (me me me!) opening
"Je kijkt zo zuur naar m'n haute couture" sings a popular Dutch band "Jeugd van Tegenwoordig". Mediamatic and Andrea Crews look down on high fashion too. We're done with Versace and Dolce&Gabbana. Thank god there are strategic clothing supplies of the Salvation army. Their second hand collection inspires poor artists and rich bankers alike.
Why Lithuanians don't dance
and the Austrians don't like prizes
Awards are never fair. And they are never fun. Except maybe for those who take part and win. And even that not always. However, 5 internationally famous artists on show and 50.000 euros in prize can definitely make Kompromat get off the couch and head to the Stedelijk Museum CS Amsterdam.
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Secret agent Sokolova smoking nervously at the entrance to the SM.-
Which artist is going to win the Vincent Award 2008?
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Young Lithuanian curator and De Appel graduate Virga Januskeviciute trying to focus on her network.-
Today's opening is important for Virga. Since DEIMANTAS NARKEVICIUS is nominated for the award, a lot of high officials from her country are going to attend. After she's finished with De Appel, Virga is going back to work at CAC in Vilnius.
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Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen (l) is a shy person.-
While artist Liam Gillick (r) is not.-KS
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LA Raeven sisters look a bit upset today.-
Or maybe the girls are just hungry?
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Art critic Camiel van Winkel (m)is extremely serious as always.-
We wonder if he has the same facial expression when he's at home eating fois gras with his wife Sophie Berrebi.
Sophie keeps smiling though... -
Curator Annie Fletcher looks happy and relaxed.-
Her work on Becoming Dutch exhibition must be finished by now.
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This is the most flamboyant girl at this party.-
She reminds us of Courtney Love. Fake is real. She's beyond fake.
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Someone REALLY famous: pianist Hans Liberg.-
International superstar, winner of the Emmy award and a Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion. Looking for his friends from the royal family...
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Another Dutch superstar - photographer Rineke Dijkstra.-
Rineke looks amazing.
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Carry each other
Grandeur in Arnhem
Sonsbeek takes place only once in 7 years. This is even less often than Documenta (although more often than the sculpture project in Muenster). It was clear to us that the whole Dutch art world is going to be there. 5 days before the official opening there is a procession during which the artworks are carried through the streets of Arnhem by its citizens, for the art world to watch. Kompromat simply couldn't miss it.
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The first thing that looks like a work of art is the table in the spacious Arnhem Town Hall.-
In the beginning, nobody dares to touch the food.-KS
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Also in close-up, the food looks quite spectacular.-
Almost not like food.
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What's this yellow substance in those glasses, kido?-
I can't believe my eyes! Could you say it again?
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Secret agent Sokolova is not quite awake yet. Trying to keep her eyes wide open...-
Drinking was her hobby before. Now it's definitely part of the job. Especially at this early hour.
The procession looks like a wedding and a funeral at the same time.
Elegantly dressed people slowly marching through the streets.
No individuals, only groups. A medieval painting feeling.
Same outfits, same facial expressions.
Carrying different artworks.
Eat bacon pancakes with sugar syrup, talk politics at parties and always start your conversations with a question. What does it mean to be Dutch, exactly? Is it possible to become, or stop being Dutch? Is it like you wake up in the morning and say to yourself: oh, actually, today I feel quite Dutch? Kompromat is going all the way to Eindhoven to find it out!
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Katja Sokolova- a happy gastarbeider in Holland-
on her way to becoming Dutch, weaponed with pumps and a fake Louis Vuitton bag.
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At Van Abbemuseum, guests already start arriving, just in time for the official opening...-
International curators Julia Aksenova (Russia) and Inti Guerrero (Colombia) don't know yet that all the speeches will be in the local language. Sorry, guys, it seems that to become Dutch one should be able to speak Dutch first.
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Burgemeester of Eindhoven Rob van Gijzel is a real gentleman.-
Please! After you.
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Ilya Rabinovich - a participating artist- is happy the preparations for the show are finished.-
Or is he thinking the official part is way too long?
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you have to be a cleaner...
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just like these people
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become a truly international woman.-
just like the French artist's Julia Boix-Vives companion: she is neatly dressed, a good housewife, and she never opens her mouth. In fact, she doesn't even have one.
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Artist Surasi Kusolwong, however, would prefer a pink-haired girlfriend with a lot of photo cameras.-
Surasi organized the Question Paintings March at Van Abbemuseum.
back to the exhibition venue...
Aliens in Leidsche Rijn
a first hand experience in second hand art
What are 5 ambitious young intellectuals from different parts of the world doing together in a new Vinex neighborhood in the Utrecht area of Holland? Answer: making an art show. After 8 months of discussions, doubts and fights, the baby is there: "Master Humphrey's Clock"- the final project of De Appel's Curatorial programme. But don't mention the art: Kompromat is interested in the cooks, not in the broth.
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Kompromat has arrived to the venue by bus with a group of Russian mafia friends.-
The exhibition location looks quite deserted. Mmm... Artists Irina Birger and Ilya Rabinovich, who grew up in Israel, are probably thinking of their first visit to kibbutz.-KS
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The Russians are greeting each other passionately.
Yulia: Armani sunglasses, silver top from the local 2nd hand shop. Dima Ryba: looks cool, brands unknown.- KS -
All the young curators seem extremely busy.-
Sarah Farrar is showing the visitors around.
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Jesse Birch is walking around with boxes.-
Is this some sort of a performance?
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Yulia Aksenova is preparing the free drink tickets for distribution.-
Rumour has it, before she decided to waste her life on curating art, Yulia had done the Retail Commerce Academy in Moscow. Anyway, we'd better stay close to her for the rest of the afternoon.
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The aliens are gathering inside their spacecraft.-
Time for the opening speech!
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De Appel director Ann Demeester looks like a pop star when she's on stage.-
I wonder where SHE buys her clothes... Some secret vintage shop in her home town Brugge, I guess.
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However, Ann can also look quite humble and serious.-
Especially when she is inspired by a famous art critic Sven Lutticken. Sven was very upset that his name was written without the "Umlaut" in the exhibition catalogue. Sorry, Sven, I could find the Umlaut on my new MacBook keyboard either. Will do better next time!-KS
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While others are networking, the Russians are eating and drinking.-
No good art on an empty stomach, as artists Gil&Moti have taught us during their "Full Belly" project at Mediamatic.
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Only the secret agent can't sit still. She keeps wondering what was in those boxes.-
Secret electronic devices that help the 5 alien curators communicate with the center? More food? Some presents for the locals?-KS
It's not hard to be nice
20 years Stifo party@De Duif 18 April
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It's still daylight but the guest already start gathering outside De Duif- KS
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Secret agent Sokolova is going on a mission.-
With the 2 beautiful female companions, its success is guaranteed.- KS
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Artist Selbi Gildemacher is surrounded by beautiful women.-
Guess which one of them is Selbi's girlfriend?
Tip: she is a new media artist from a Northern European country. Not from Holland!-KS -
Filmmaker Aliona van der Horst has won Jan Kassies prize today.-
Not for one particular film, but for "her great merit in national cinema", as they would say in Russia. Aliona is half Russian. Cultural Embassy's Vincent de Boer is very proud of his wife. Kompromat is proud of her too.- KS
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Dutch Cultural Broadcasting fund director Hans Maarten van den Brink.-
With his 3 kids. Obviously.-KS
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Floor van Spaendonck has recently become director of Virtual Platform.-
We asked her to look very official for this photo. But, in fact, she is still the same open person with a big smile. Floor rocks.-KS
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Secret agent Sokolova shaking hands with Steven van Teeseling from fonds BKVB.-
Maybe it will bring her more luck with the bemiddelaarssubsidie next time?
Anyway, Steven is extremely nice and cute too. Not a bureaucrat type at all. He combines his job at the foundation with own curatorial projects.-KS -
The only not-so-nice thing about this party is the door policy.-
No smoking inside, no drinks outside. As most people at the party appreciate the combination, there is a lot of arguing with the security at the door.- KS
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Vrij Nederland's chief editor Emile Fallaux has got enough of it. He is leaving...-
Emile used to be a secret agent too: he worked for VPRO in the USSR. Time to put my sunglasses on... I believe Emile is off duty now, but Andrei and I still have to be careful when we talk Russian to each other. - KS
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Other people, however, are staying and having fun till late.-
Such as Stimulieringsfonds' Nicolette Langestraat. No party is better than the one organized by yourself.
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Artist Zhana Ivanova is laughing at the art world.-
Zhana's dad is a Deputy Minister of Culture in Bulgaria.
Tonight Kompromat is going to rock out at the 20th anniversary of the Dutch Cultural Broadcasting fund. All producers of cultural vibes- filmmakers, rock stars, artists and wannabes are going to be there. As well as those we all need in order to keep breathing, those who decide on our lives and deaths. We've heard that even the Minister of Culture is coming...
We haven't had the chance to meet the Dutch Minister tonight....
But actually, that was not our main goal. This secret mission is all about taking a photo with Zita Swoon.
When secret agent Sokolova was the same age as the Dutch Broadcasting fund, she was a rock-n-roll chick. And she still secretly likes to be on photos with bands. Of course, only with the cool ones.
But the good old days are over and gone: no screaming fans, no groupies, no drinks backstage.
The band starts packing immediately and leaves in the direction of our southern neighbors.
So, no pictures to send home.
All what's le...
New Moon on Monday
DNK @ Smart Project Space – 7 april 2008
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Very appropriate for a first gig in a new venue; fireworks
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Secret agent Sokolova on her first assignment.-
DNK's new venue Smart Project Space has a slightly morbid history, but in fact, who is afraid of it? Culture nowadays is like a contagious disease taking over places and infecting everybody. Even the dead couldn't escape. -KS
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Andre Avelas with his merchandise in the entrance hall-
DJ Andre is one of the coolest DJs of Amsterdam when he is actually performing. His talents as a shopkeeper are less obvious. KS
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Mike Ottink is one of the musicians performing tonight.-
Mike looks much younger than he is, especially when he is drinking water. I wonder if he was the one who introduced the fashion of wearing caps collectively. -KS
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Or was it DNK founder and director Koen Nutters who started the cap fashion?-
Well, rumor has it that the first cap was actually purchased by Seamus Cater from DNK programming committee. But it didn't suit him so he passed it on. -KS
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In the meantime visitors start arriving.-
Artist and curator Irina Birger is coming straight from De Appel where she spent the previous night with Serge Onnen. The night was a prize to Irina and Serge as a perfect couple of the Gastarbeider Dating project. To our surprise, Irina looks quite sleepy. Was it indeed a romantic night? -KS
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Artist Serge Onnen looks extremely happy.-
KS:Was it so special, de Appel last night?
SO:Well... We didn't really get wild. I guess, the gallery space is too clinical for that. However, the bed was fantastic, it slept very well. We also enjoyed the champagne and the breakfast. And of course, the private view of the show was quite special. -
Artist Brian McKenna is behaving suspicious.-
Is it because he also did something special last night?
Or just because he's hiding a bottle of Canadian Club under his coat? -KS -
Tamuna Chabashvili from Public Space with a Roof is talking Maxim Chapochnikov aka DJ Goldfinger-
Tamuna and Maxim are discussing the difficulties of finding right venues for their projects. Tamuna's gallery has recently moved out of O301, and Maxim is constantly in search of hot new locations for his concerts and Russian parties. -KS
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The Smart's director Thomas Peutz (right) has ambitious plans for his building.-
Spacious exhibition rooms, artists' studios, 2 cinema halls...
Well, Thomas, almost 3 years have passed after the opening, and there is still a lot to be done. -KS -
Also Esma Moukhtar and Peter van der Hoop have to get used to the unusually posh surroundings.-
As a DNK board member, Peter van der Hoop keeps an eye on things and takes care of funding. They say, Peter is a money wizard. Hopefully, he will bring DNK some more dough. KS
It’s a quiet Monday night, a perfect night for the 2 Russian secret agents to go on their first assignment. Tonight our friends from DNK organize their first gig in their new-found home. From cool–but–shabby O301 they have moved to Smart Project Space — a promising new location in Amsterdams Old West. DNK evenings, consisting of short acts by different performers, sophisticated and entertaining at the same time, usually attract a bunch of nice friendly people. Let's see...
Willem
Robert
Paul
