Exhibitions & Bonfire
Visiting Chris Killip, Dirk Braeckman, Léon Spilliaert & the preparations for the Scheveningen New Year's bonfire
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This weekend I visited The Hague, to see some exhibitions I still had on my wishlist. First stop was a visit to the Kunstmuseum Den Haag for the duo exhibition of the Belgium artists Dirk Braeckman & Léon Spilliaert, set up as a dialogue.
Museumguide: ”In the works of Belgian artists Léon Spilliaert (Ostend, 1881-1946) and Dirk Braeckman (Eeklo, 1958), it always seems to be night. Although Spilliaert mostly worked with ink, pencil and chalk and Braeckman mainly photographs, they share their fascination for the dark hours. The much black, the grey, points of light that emphasise the dark, shades of darkness: with their nocturnal gaze, they process their immediate surroundings and impressions into ambiguous dream images that raise more questions than answers. Their works seem to emerge from the same emotional world: they show the mysterious, the intangible and the indefinable.”
This exhibition completely blew me away. I went to get the catalogue, but it turned out to be completely sold out. So I immediately turned to an auction site and bought a copy.
Next I went to the neighbouring Fotomuseum Den Haag to see the Chris Killip retrospective. A photography friend had told me I should definitely go and last week
wrote about Chris Killip in his newsletter. With only a few days left before the exhibition closes, I was right on time. I was familiar with some of his work, including the Skinninggrove series, but to see it printed in the museum was absolutely fabulous. I also had to buy Killip's retrospective book. I can't help it.
Preparations for the New Years’ Eve Bonfire
Whenever I go to The Hague, I always visit the beach at Scheveningen. Especially this Sunday, as the preparations for the New Year's bonfire were almost finished. This huge bonfire of stacked pallets is limited in height due to some heavy ash rain a few years ago. Still very impressive. I took some pictures of the beach, the Scheveningen pier and the preparations. Click on the images to enlarge.
NOTE: Due to the weather conditions on December 31st the city of The Hague ordered the bonfire to be lit from 11pm on Monday 30 December.
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That’s it for this newsletter.
Till next time,
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Haven't you seen Braeckman in Kunstmuseum? You would have liked it.
Outstanding tour of beautiful works!! I felt like I was visiting. Thank you! I learned some new names.