AMERSFOORT, THE NETHERLANDS.- Kunsthal KAdE is a brand new exhibition space in Amersfoort, a city in the heart of the Netherlands. It runs a programme of contemporary art, design, architecture and visual culture events focusing on undercurrents in the field of today's art world and modern society. The opening exhibition, 'Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass' (2 May - 30 August), brings together a group of international artists who use a rich and baroque visual language to create parallel worlds drawing on tableaux vivants, extreme narratives, anecdotical story telling and fairy tales, and peppered with melancholic and gothic references. In part autonomous fantasy, in part parable-like reflections on the 'real world', their work triggers a whole array of metaphorical readings, emotional associations and critical meanings.
Participating artists are: Kathrine Ærtebjerg (DK), Chiho Aoshima (JP), Rina Banerjee (IN), Hernan Bas (US), Martha Colburn (US), Jake & Dinos Chapman (GB), Liz Craft (US), Henry Darger (US), Nathalie Djurberg (SE), Marcel Dzama (CA), Angelo Filomeno (US), Chris Jones (GB), Maartje Korstanje (NL), Tim Lewis (GB), Paul Morrison (GB), Patricia Piccinini (AU), Barbara Polderman (NL), Jon Pylypchuk (CA), Jen Ray (US), Karen Sargsyan (AR), Hinke Schreuders (NL) and Mathew Weir (GB).
Paul Morrison has made a specially designed wall painting measuring 12 x 16 metres, Jon Pylypchuk has created an installation featuring his signature puppets, Angelo Filomeno has produced a new work elaborating on one of the large embroideries in his Venice Biennale series, Rina Banerjee has made two new wall sculptures, Kathrine Ærtebjerg has painted a fresh suite of paintings and Maartje Korstanje, Hinke Schreuders and Karen Sargsyan have all likewise produced new works especially for the exhibition. Two large drawings by self-taught artist Henry Darger (1892-1973) will be seen for the first time in the Netherlands.
KAdE is housed in a brand new building designed by Spanish architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg and positioned on the edge of the medieval inner city. KAdE is generously sponsored by De Amersfoortse Verzekeringen, Japanese firm Yokogawa Europe B.V., BRANCHE, a restaurant concept of the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group, and property developer De Alliantie Ontwikkeling.
