'WHITE SPACES' at Galerie van den Berge, November 6 - December 18

Preparations for a two-person exhibition at Galerie van den Berge in Goes are in full swing. I will show the series ERTUSSENDOOR and INBETWEEN series, together with several four-letter prints from HEEL KORT, HEEL EVEN series. Leading up to the exhibition, some of our works are on Gallery Viewer already, an online platform for contemporary art.

‘WHITE SPACES’ / Ab van Hanegem / Gracia Khouw
Opening: Sunday, November 6; on view through December 18, 2022

Galerie van den Berge
Albert Joachimikade 5, 4461 BG Goes
Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 13.00 - 17.00 hrs, and by appointment

Text about the ERTUSSENDOOR + INBETWEEN series (NL + EN)

ADUH - ABDI - ADAT - ADIL - New series four letter words

From my fascination with four-letter words, the FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS series was born in 2017. They symbolize fast, compact, efficient and standard, matching today's times. The continuation is the project HEEL KORT HEEL EVEN / CUMA KATA-KATA and puts more emphasis on the languages I grew up with. Presenting the word images of the different languages side by side can lead to new connections and insights. In doing so, the project also shows how I hold myself in the field of language and image from my life of migration and being an artist.
Here are the new series' first word images and meanings in Dutch and English.

Update: Booklaunch October 21, 2023, Huis de Pinto, Amsterdam

Update: Presentation of the series: February 1 - 4, 2024, Bouwput Gallery Amsterdam

ADUH; NL (uitroep van pijn, verbazing, teleurstelling e.d.) ach, au, ai, jee; mengaduh – kreunen, jammeren, weeklagen / EN (exclamation of pain, surprise, disappointment, etc.) ouch, augh, ee, gosh; mengaduh - moaning, lamenting, wailing

ABDI; NL 1. dienaar, ondergeschikte; 2. slaaf; abdidalem - paleisdienaar, hofambtenaar; abdinegara – overheidsdienaar, ambtenaar; mengabdi (ke)(pada) - dienen bij, in dienst zijn van, toegewijd aan. / EN 1. servant, subordinate; 2. slave; abdidalem - palace servant, court official; abdinegara - government servant, official; mengabdi (ke)(pada), serve at, be in the service of, be devoted to.

ADAT; NL 1. traditie, overlevering, adat; 2. gewoonte (recht), regel; adat-istiadat (kebiasaan) – gewoonten (en gebruiken); beradat – volgens de traditie, traditioneel / EN 1. tradition, custom, adat; 2. custom (law), rule; adat-istiadat (kebiasaan) - customs (and practices); beradat - according to tradition, traditional

ADIL; NL  rechtvaardig, eerlijk, onpartijdig, billijk, rechtmatig; keadilan – rechtvaardigheid, billijkheid / EN just, fair, impartial, equitable; keadilan - justice, equity

Thank you, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst!

I am very happy that the AFK has granted my project application HEEL KORT, HEEL EVEN / CUMA KATA KATA/HEAR HERE. In the coming months, I will be able to compose new Dutch, Indonesian and English four-letter word images. These short four-letter words convey abstract notions, concepts and sentiments. I have been exploring them since 2012, although I am far from reaching the full potential of them.
Thank you, AFK!

FIVE FOUR MORE LESS page


Thank you, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds!

I am so delighted that the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund, which houses the Tijlfonds has granted my application for a publication of the series of works 'FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS'! The publication will feature 60-80 new four-letter words in Dutch, Indonesian and English accompanied by an excellent text by Maaike Drescher. The project is planned to be published and presented in February 2023.

Link to https://www.graciakhouw.com/fivefourmoreless

In preparation: de/cipher! in gkg Bonn (DE) January 2023

I’m thrilled to be invited for de/cipher! a group exhibition curated by Susannah Cremer-Bermbach in gkg, Bonn (DE). In addition, preparations are now underway for the exhibition to take place in the Netherlands in 2023.

'Cipher' in German means 'digit', 'cipher', 'zero' and 'monogram' and above all a secret writing, the translation of (everyday) language into an encrypted message, a code. The exhibition title 'De/cipher' thus refers to a semiotic interplay between encoding and decoding, and in a more general sense around translation - of lines, shapes, colors, patterns, signs and symbols.

Participants: Marjorie Welish, artist/critic (NY/US), José Heerkens (NL), Johanna Reich (DE), Gracia Khouw.
Also showing artists objects, wall works, books and special editions by Carlo Battisti, Julia Bünnagel, Jochen Gerz, Eugen Gomringer, Keti Kapanadze, Wjm Kok, Joseph Kosuth, Josef Linschinger, Vera Molnar, Franz Mon, Gerhard Rühm, Takako Saito, Timm Ulrichs, Ulrich Wagner and others.

Installation view in gkg Bonn during “Lebt Theo?” 2011, a group exhibition curated by S. Cremer-Bermbach and Christoph Dahlhausen / photo: works by G. Khouw. Krijn de Koning, WJM Kok, Bob Bonies, Piet Tuytel
Link to YEAH page

gkg Bonn (Gesellschaft für Kunst und Gestaltung)
January 22 - April 16, 2023
Hochstadenring 22
53119 Bonn (DE)

New Work: INBETWEEN series

An introduction to this new series inspired by the so-called "adverbs of place," words that answer the question of where something takes place. Below are a few pictures of the first paintings made in the fall of 2021. More works will follow this spring.

TWEEN (green) 1509 / 35 x 32 cm size (nr. 1)
TWEEN (blue) - 1709 / 35 x 32 cm size (nr. 1)
TWEEN (black) - 2911/ 76,5 x 70 x 2 cm (size nr. 4)
Overview photo: TWEEN (blue) 1909 / 43 x 43 x 2 cm (nr. 2) (sold) and TWEEN (blue) / 54 x 50 x 2 cm (nr. 3)
- the material of the paintings is 6 mm birch plywood. A custom mdf hanging structure is attached to the back so that you can view the work in 4 different positions.

The series are works in edition
- Size nr. 1, nr. 2 are editions of 3
- Size nr. 3, nr. 4 are editions of 2
- Size nr. 5 is unique and is the maximum size at the moment.

New Series / working title: Adverbs of Place

The making of new series with adverbs of place INBETWEEN, Laser cut birch plywoord 6 mm, sizes nr. 3 - 52 x 58 and nr. 4 - 60 x 77 cm

GREETINGS / LIMITED EDITION CARDS

in , ,
GREETINGS / LIMITED EDITION CARDS

NL: voor Nederlands, scroll omlaag, of klik op ‘read more’

At the end of the year, we face the beginning of a new year. Time to think about New Year's cards. I have a collection of 6 designs. They can be ordered in sets of 6, you can specify how many of the type of design (or color) you wish to receive.
Order by 30th of November to receive the cards on time.
NL
Aan het eind van het jaar, staan we voor het begin van een nieuw jaar. Tijd om na te denken over nieuwjaarskaarten. Ik heb een collectie van 6 ontwerpen. Ze kunnen per sets van 6 besteld worden, je kunt de set zelf samenstellen met de ontwerpen of kleuren die je wilt hebben.
Bestel s.v.p. vóór 30 november om de kaarten op tijd in huis te hebben.

Read More

The Distance Between Two Intersecting Lines (part 1) 28/09 - 08/10/2021, ARTSPACE - Arti Et Amicitiae, Amsterdam

OVER (black, green) #0708 - 2020 / 41 x 45 x 2 cm, size 2 / edition of 3 / private collection

OVER (black, green) #0708 - 2020 / 41 x 45 x 2 cm, size 2 / edition of 3 / private collection

The first part of a two person exhibition with works about space, emptiness, residual form and shape in Amsterdam. The next show will be in Abstract Project Gallery in Paris.

ARTSPACE, Sociëteit Arti et Amicitiae
(Society of visual artists)
Rokin 112, Amsterdam
Open on weekdays Monday - Friday, 13.30 - 17.00 hrs
Link Gerda Kruimer

Arti et Amicitiae and its fascinating history is closely linked to its monumental building on the Rokin. Arti presents a topical, experimental, high profile exhibition program which includes both local and international subjects in its central location in the heart of Amsterdam.

https://www.arti.nl/tentoonstelling/gracia-khouw-en-gerda-kruimer/

FINISSAGE - GEEN DADEN MAAR WOORDEN - 18/7, 15.00 hrs

NOT ACTIONS BUT WORDS >>> Finisage >> Sunday July 18, 15.00 - 17.00 hrs
- Program is in Dutch-

Vrijdag 16, zaterdag 17 en zondag 18 juli zijn de laatste dagen van de tentoonstelling.

Op de allerlaatste dag sluiten we af met een kort en fel programma:

- PJ Roggeband komt spreken over '11-letterige woorden'
- Korrie Besems over 'woorden en enkele zeer korte gedichten'.
- Jan Verhaeghe zal doorlopend zijn performance 'Artbooks by The Censored Censor #2' uitvoeren.
- Onder leiding van Maria Barnas kunnen bezoekers meedoen aan de workshop ‘woordhappen’.

Gratis teras, reserveren niet nodig. Welkom!

Omstand (link)
Van Oldenbarneveldstaat 92 A, Arnhem
open: 12.00- 17.00 uur
(click on the image bellow to view the series)

FIVE FOUR MORE LESS / installation view of 12 images, photo Django van Ardenne / Click on the image

FIVE FOUR MORE LESS / installation view of 12 images, photo Django van Ardenne / Click on the image

LIKE/LEUK, from the FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS series / GDMW, OMSTAND Arnhem

LIKE 2021 / 64 x 64 x 2 cm / print on plexiglass

For me, LIKE is intrinsically linked to Facebook. So is LEUK in Dutch. It's meant to be affirmative; but there's no room for nuance, such as ' a little like' - a little like. I don't like the word LIKE; while I find LEUK slightly less problematic. I am ambiguous about the significance. Visually, the four capitals have angular and sharp horizontal and vertical lines; I have marked the residual area with diagonal lines. Although the sound is inviting, as if with two arms you want to claim or pull something in for yourself, all the linear strokes repel. LIKE and LEUK are typical cliché words. In a personal conversation, you can't get away with these words; you continue to ask why something is liked. If the person can't explain it, they represent a superficial view of things.

Or would that be true of most four-letter words?



> LIKE is part of GEEN DADEN MAAR WOORDEN exhibition at Omstand, exhibition space for contemporary art, Arnhem - show runs till July 18 > Artist Talk at Finissage on Sunday 18th. Welcome!
>> More images FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS page

LEUK-rood-lichtblauw, 2018

NL
Voor mij is LIKE is onlosmakelijk verbonden met Facebook. Net als LEUK in het Nederlands. Het is positief bedoeld; maar er is geen ruimte voor nuance, zoals ‘een beetje leuk’ - een beetje like. Ik hou niet van het woord LIKE; terwijl ik LEUK iets minder problematisch vind. Ik sta ambigue tegenover de betekenis. Visueel hebben de vier kapitalen hoekige en scherpe horizontale en verticale lijnen; de restvlak heb ik met diagonale lijnen gearceerd. Hoewel de klank uitnodigend is, alsof je met twee armen iets wil claimen of binnenhalen voor jezelf, stoten al die rechte lijnen af. LIKE en LEUK zijn typische cliché woorden. In een persoonlijk gesprek kun je niet wegkomen met deze woorden; je vraagt door waarom iets leuk is. Als degene dat niet kan uitleggen symboliseren ze een oppervlakkige kijk op de dingen.

Of zou dat voor de meeste vierletterwoorden gelden?

GEEN DADEN MAAR WOORDEN - NOT ACTIONS BUT WORDS

LUCK (proof, nr 3), 64 x 64 cm, 3 mm plexiglass

Jan Verhaeghe (BE) photo of detail Censuursculpturen (Censorship sculptures), ongoing series

Jan Verhaeghe (BE) photo of detail Censuursculpturen (Censorship sculptures), ongoing series

I’m very excited about this exhibition about the use of words in the visual arts. Language is the connecting factor between the artworks in which words are manipulated, visualized or made audible in a variety of ways.

For this exhibition, I used several words from the collection of four-letter words beginning with the letter L. I now focus more on the centerpiece and keep a square format. Additionally, I‘m experimenting with printing on plexiglass. The clarity and sheen of the plastic material suits the through simplification that the words want to convey. Twelve images on plexiglass are installed in the show, forming a dialogue with the 4 letter words by Gerard Koek.
Link to FIVE FOUR page

June 12 - July 18, 2021
OMSTAND, exhibition space for contemporary art, Van Oldenbarneveldstraat 92 A, Arnhem

Opening: June 12, 16.00 hrs
Also present on Sunday June 27, 14.00 - 17.00 hrs (please rsvp)

>> Many thanks curator Korrie Besems and Rob Groot Zevers, Omstand!

NL
GEEN DADEN MAAR WOORDEN is een groepstentoonstelling over vormen van taal in de beeldende kunst. Taal is de verbindende factor tussen de kunstwerken waarin woorden op uiteenlopende wijze worden bewerkt, verbeeld of hoorbaar worden gemaakt. Van jonge en meer ervaren kunstenaars worden werken getoond die de volle bandbreedte beslaan van hoe taal een beeld kracht bij kan zetten of hoe taal geen beeld meer nodig heeft om een krachtig beeld op te roepen.

Voor deze tentoonstelling heb ik een aantal woorden gebruikt uit de verzameling van vierletterwoorden die beginnen met de letter L. Ik concentreer me nu meer op het middenstuk en houd een vierkant formaat over. Ook ik experimenteer met het printen op plexiglas. De helderheid en de glans van het plastic materiaal past bij de doorgeslagen versimpeling die de woorden willen overbrengen. In de tentoonstelling zijn 12 panelen te zien die in de ruimte een dialoog aangaan met de vierletterwoorden van Gerard Koek.

..more about FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS

! UPDATE Huis de Pinto: Waar ik nu ben / Where I am now

in ,

Huis de Pinto will reopen on June 9 and the exhibition is extended to September 1 , 2021.
Regular opening hours: Monday - Saturday, 13.30 - 17.00 hrs.
Link to Huis de Pinto
 Project page LINK.

An afternoon in Huis de Pinto, november 2020

An afternoon in Huis de Pinto, november 2020


>> With special thanks to Jacqueline Verhaagen, Maarten Borger, Cuneke Mertens, Herman Feddema, Emma Hogendorp, Tine Sijbesma and Diet Verschoor.