EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS.- The Van Abbemuseum presents Plug In - Re-imagining the collection. Plug In is the museum’s new approach to exhibiting its famous collection of contemporary art. For a period of three years, the Van Abbemuseum plans to experiment with presentations put together by the museum’s own curators and guest curators, by artists, theorists and activists. Each museum space has its own independent display, with its own time span and development. This constantly invokes fresh narratives, surprising links and revealing contrasts.

The new episodes will be featuring widely divergent subjects and visions. The museum possesses several large drawings by Elly Strik that have rarely been on display before. In Plug In #17 - In search of the perfect [failure] she took up the challenge to display a selection of these works in combination with works by other artists from the collection. Guest curator Kerstin Niemann explored the relationship between works from the collection and the virtual world of computer games in Plug In #16 – Multi-User Knowledge Space[s] and in Plug In #20 – in the middle of… research curator Esra Sarigedik devised a space for ‘thinking’ about the collection and the part it plays in defining the museum. In Plug In #21 Tintin Wulia presents her video installation Everything’s OK (2003), recently purchased by the Van Abbemuseum. She discusses the problem of urbanisation and the loss of human scale in the form of an animation film.

René Daniëls - One episode of Plug In is dedicated to the work of René Daniëls. The Van Abbemuseum has a substantial number of his paintings and drawings on long-term loan. A selection of these works, together with a series of white on black drawings Daniëls made in the mid eighties for publication by the Stichting één op één (One on One Foundation) in Amsterdam is on show. The publication was never completed and after publishing five artist’s books, the Stichting één op één ceased to exist. On the initiative of Paul Andriesse Gallery and the René Daniëls Foundation, these drawings have finally been published in facsimile. The publication will be presented at the Van Abbemuseum on 16 December.

Kijkdepot (viewing depot) - The Kijkdepot (Viewing Depot) is a special project that will be launched on 16 December. Upon request of the visitors, the Van Abbemuseum will be exhibiting artworks from its own collection. The public can mail or submit a request in writing, provided it is accompanied by a written motivation to support the choice. This motivation will be displayed along with the work in the Plug In #18 Kijkdepot. From 16 December, an up to date list of works will be published on www.vanabbemuseum.nl.

Yourspace - As part of the Academy. Learning from the Museum and initiated by Charles Esche, Kerstin Niemann and Mårten Spångberg, the museum started up the yourspace project in September 2006. At least once a month, on Thursday evenings, yourspace provides artists, artist groups, cultural activists, museum staff and other organisations based in Eindhoven and the surrounding area with a platform for discussing and exchanging ideas and information. The ‘shape’ of the space was created by ‘International Festival’ and has since been added to the museum’s collection. From 16 December, yourspace is to be continued as Plug In #19. Material documenting the discussions and presentations held here is also on display in the space. Visit www.your-space.nl for the yourspace programme.