Sometimes you have to go somewhere to come back

I overheard a conversation last night @Kulter. Amsterdam artist Laetitia Schoofs talked about her studies and expectations. She had always been fascinated by film, and worked hard to become a TV producer. Only to realise that she was producing for other people and not for herself. She quitted her job and started an art education, to make up for her initial dreams. Schoofs’ work is, to me, a physical representation of memories. In her livingroom installation was a small deer head. Symbol of innocence, at the same time cruel. What struck me most when the band Chinup was playing in front of the same installation. The deer was peeking through, the image made me laugh.

Can we be that relative, can we accept that an image can be cruel and joyous at the same time? To paraphrase a certain American president: Yes, we can. There is lightness in heavy things, you just have to be open for it. Like the songs of Chinup. Happy songs for sad people or sad songs for happy people, take your pick.

This is what makes Kulter special. There is no discours, just the images, the words and the sound. The poetry of Froukje van der Ploeg expressed the same for me. Single people shopping with flowers on their cart, to show they are available. Sad and happy at the same time.

Now normally I would project this theory on the rest of the works, to make this report fit. But I’m not pretentious. I don’t know yet what it means to me. Maybe I’ll go back this week, to look again on the 18th of October...

bART @ kulter. #06

Floris Bovée [installatie]

Janneke van Leeuwen [fotografie]
Laetitia Schoofs [fotografie, video]

Bogomir Doringer [film]

Opening:

Froukje van de Ploeg [gedichten]

Chinup [music]

Daan Mol was sick. He’ll be back.

See also: http://cut-up.com/2009/10/bart-kulter/

Extra opening: 18 October - East meets west

Delicatessen Zeeburg 14:00 - Kulter 16:00 - Nieuwe Anita 18:00

15 eur incl. 3 drinks & food