Art Rotterdam 2017

The Van Nelle Fabriek factory plays host to the 18th edition of Art Rotterdam. The original ethos of the fair perseveres; promoting and encouraging emerging practitioners across a variety of creative disciplines. The festival showcases and celebrates creativity through a diversity of models. Alongside the main section, comprising 70 leading institutions from across the globe, the New Art segment highlights the youngest participants, championing the developing talent of the next generation. In Projections, a series of moving-image and film are cast on a five-metre-wide wall. Prospects & Concepts, located in a 2,500-metre space, is home to pieces from over 60 innovative figures. Lastly, modern work from installation and performance are also highlighted through the project Intersections, returning for the third time.

As always, the festival pushes conceptual and stylistic boundaries, this year introducing the Open Air segment, a show outside the conventional spaces of museums and galleries.  As the curator of the programme, Samuel Saelemakers, states: “It is the opportunity for art pieces to escape the commotion of the fair and show themselves more autonomously.” The selected works, including those from sculptor Nadia Naveau and sound artist Susan Philipsz, enter a dialogue with the public space, the weather and the Van Nelle architecture.

During Art Rotterdam, the entire city is bursting with pop-up shows, exhibitions and open studios. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen’s Mad about Surrealism, brings together four iconic works from private European collections. Additionally, De Kunsthal explores the potential of internet based compositions. From 16,000 visitors in 2013 to 26,500 fairgoers in 2016, the event is continuing to grow, enhancing its status as one of the most important events in the industry calendar.

Art Rotterdam, 9-12 February, Van Nellefabriek, Rotterdam. For more information, visit: www.artrotterdam.com

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Credits
1. David Verbeek, Full Contact (2015) (film still). Courtesy of the artist and Flatland Gallery.