AMSTERDAM.- After a successful first edition of Art Affair last September a short time before Covid prohibited physical cultural events to take place, the organizers seized the opportunity when te Dutch government announced an early easing of the regulations per June 5th. Of course we kept our options open and would have wanted to do another
Art Affair in December and later in March of this year, but it couldnt be safely organized. Now with rapidly declining numbers and the easing of the regulations, we can host a physical event, says Robert Aronson, initiator and co-organizer of the event.
Last year six world-class art dealers participated in this new boutique-style selling exhibition at the Amsterdam Hilton hotel, now two ballrooms will be transformed and twelve participants will exhibit. The visitors can safely enjoy the exhibits according to the latest regulations by the Dutch CDC, the RIVM.
During the first edition we allowed a maximum of 40 visitors into the ballroom at each given moment, according to co-organizer and exhibitor Robbert van Ham of Jaski Gallery. Now, because numbers are calculated per square meter, it looks like the maximum amount of visitors will be comparable just about few less than before. Anyway towards the summer we want to take the opportunity and be able to receive our guests and friends again.
The twelve internationally oriented dealers have known each other for years partly through their participation in internationally known art fairs like TEFAF Maastricht. Now that these international art fairs cannot take place yet, the twelve dealers decided to join forces and create an opportunity to invite our clientele. At a smaller event the new rules are easier to implement, says colleague Emiel Aardewerk, and we have given the physical security of our visitors a lot of attention. We uphold the strictest norms and on top of that the Hilton Hotel has a modern air filtration system, which draws air from outside through HEPA filters.
Te participants are A. Aardewerk, The Hague (antique Dutch silver and jewelry), Kunstgalerij Albricht, Oosterbeek (19th and 20th century paintings), Bies Kunsthandel, Eindhoven (19th and 20th century paintings), Aronson Antiquairs, Amsterdam (17th and 18th century Dutch Delftware), Bijl-Van Urk, Alkmaar (17th century Old Master Paintings), Koetser Gallery, Zürich (17th century Old Master Paintings), BorzoGallery, Amsterdam (modern and contemporary art), Jaski Gallery, Amsterdam (modern and contemporary art), Kollenburg Antiquairs, Oirschot (17th and 18th century applied arts), Salomon Stodel Antiquités, Amsterdam (17th and 18th century applied arts), Marjan Sterk Fine Art Jewellery, Amsterdam (jewelry) and Vanderven Oriental Art, s-Hertogenbosch (Chinese arts).
The ballrooms of the Amsterdam Hilton have a dedicated entrance on the Apollolaan in Amsterdams South-quarter and because of the limitations per room two dedicated lounge