End-Of-Year-Exhibition 2018 St. Keramisten NH

The first snow has fallen. So time for the End-Of-Year-Exhibition 2018 of the St. Keramisten NH (Foundation Ceramists North Holland). Like last year, Keramikos, (Oudeweg 151 – 153, Haarlem) is our host.

The exhibition only runs until 19 January 2019, so do not wait too long to visit…

“Magda”, “Hokus” and “Penetrating” are the ceramic sculptures that I have submitted this year.This trio isn’t lonely, there are almost 80 works exhibited by 25 colleague ceramists.

Shards of Crystal

Every year I am impressed by the variety of works. You would almost forget that the freedom artists take today is under pressure.

“L’art pour l’art” is no longer self-evident. Since mid 2018, Thierry Baudet is a member of the art committee of the House of Representatives (Parlement in the Netherlands). I find it frightened how he offends artists, without any kind of knowledge on the subject, self mockery or irony.

According to the populist views of his party the only role of art should be full of conviction of national history in ‘proud paintings‘ and ‘sculptures of our heroes‘. That kind of art is not only an insult to the intellect, it is a threat to our freedom.

Entering a “Reichskulturkammer” that protects the people from the “Entartete art” is not new and certainly no laughing matter.

Feast of variety

Autonomous (ceramic) art must therefore be celebrated. That we can exhibit in freedom is a privilege, which shouldn’t be underestimated. I am very happy with everyone who haven’t forgotten the shards of crystal.

But enough about outdated and unsavory political ideas. I would almost forget why I started writing this blog.

Get surprised by original ideas and give your mind a bit of space. In short, embrace the “Oikophobia“, make and admire all the autonomous art. Making and viewing an exposition is nowadays almost an act of resistance;-)