Michiel van Iersel

Opening Aura exhibition

What does a contemporary artist do with the past of a former hiding place on one of Amsterdam's canals?

14 May 2009
14 May 2009
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Aura logo (ontwerp: Vandejong) - Juha van 't Zelfde

Castrum Peregrini Foundation cordially invites you to the opening of the Aura-groupshow on Thursday 14 May, 18:00 hrs, at the Herengracht 401 in Amsterdam.

'What does a contemporary artist do with the past of a former hiding place on one of Amsterdam's canals?'

Nine artists from different disciplines were asked to chose a historic object, a story or a person from the rich legacy of Castrum Peregrini as a point of departure and use it for a new artwork. The results of this ‘artistic recycling’ vary from installation art, ink drawings, photography and film to conceptual furniture, poems and a short contemporary radio play. The exhibition starts in the new project space of Castrum Peregrini, moving up the old staircase into the deserted apartment of a late inhabitant where the past is still perceptibly present. The show questions Walter Benjamin's claim that: "that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art."

Participating artists:
- Amie Dicke (NL)
- Chris Kabel (NL)
- John Kleckner (USA)
- Susanne Kriemann (D)
- Jan Robert Leegte (NL)
- Alexandra Leykauf (D)
- Renée van Marissing &
- Allerd van den Bremen (NL)

And works from the collection by (a.o.):
- Max Beckmann
- Walter Benjamin
- Simon van Keulen
- Gisèle d’Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht

Curator: Michiel van Iersel

Official opening Aura-exhibition:
- Thursday, 14 May, 18:00 - 21:00 hrs
Herengracht 401 (close to Koningsplein)
With auratic music and sounds from Juha.

Opening hours Aura-exhibition:
- 14 May - 21 June, Wednesday through Sunday 13:00 - 18:00 hrs, Admission 5 Euro, free <18 years

The Aura project is being made possible through the generous support of the Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, VSB Fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Lira Fonds, Goethe Institut Amsterdam and Genootschap Nederland Duitsland

More info castrumperegrini.org or call (+31) (0)20 6235287