Power of Place

The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture (Fonds BKVB) has organized the exhibition Power of Place. The exhibition is a component of the International Triennial Apeldoorn 2008 and is based on the landscape-study tour throughout the United States, initialized by the Fonds BKVB. Curator Huib Haye van der Werf will present an extraordinary selection of works by the participants of this trip, which are well-established landscape architects, visual artists, designers and critics.

Nettenfabriek
The location ‘Nettenfabriek’ will be transformed into a place that presents various aspects of the subject ‘landscape’. Over 1.600 square meters has been divided into three zones: first an indoor landscape which has been constructed into the floor of the former factory hall, designed by Ester van de Wiel. Following this, a stage and arena designed by Het Observatorium, which is inspired by the American parkways (and the idea that landscapes are often experienced from the highway). The result is an arena consisting of over 55.000 lbs of piled asphalt where debates, presentations and discussions will take place with (inter)national guests on the subject of landscape and its development. These topics will be further contextualized in Cabinets installed by Tjerk Ruimschotel.

The third and final part of the exhibition is the area in which new work is shown of the visual artists who took part in the study tour, and in addition to that existing works of five other artists.

Frank van der Salm has created a spectacular film, compiled of over 50.000 digital photographs which were taken during the study tour by the participants. On location, Erik Odijk has made an enormous drawing inspired by the American scenery ands its ever-changing manifestation. Rudy Luijters has designed a landscape of corn, as a statement on the commodification of food. (The used corn will be recycled after the exhibition). Voebe de Gruyter has built an installation in which local polluted water is evaporated, which stems from her fascination for molecular science as she is interested in the process in which all organisms that live in water slowly feminize, including the observer. Sanne Peper presents a selection of her photographs of the untouched and rough scenery of Arizona which, due to the extra (x-ray) safety precautions at international airports, have been tainted by a sinister veil.

The five artists who didn’t participate in the study tour, but who are represented in Power of Place, all present a different approach to the notion of landscape: Lara Almarcegui (landscape as a cultural phenomenon), Philippine Hoegen (landscape as a façade), Stephan Keppel (urban landscape), Pim Palsgraaf (swelling urbanization) and Eva-Fiore Kovacovsky (landscape as a construction).

The study tour
The study tour to the United States aimed for the east coast, the Mid West and the state of Arizona and was based on the concept of studying the landscape and town planning on three levels: urban landscaping, the green areas near the suburbs and the infrastructure in the endless scenery brought to us by television and popular culture. The exhibition Power of Place intends to show what the effects of this study tour are.

Program of debates and presentations
The aforementioned program of debates and presentations that the Fonds BKVB also organizes is titled ‘The lost dimension. A research of social meaning of landscape.’ For more information on this extensive program, the exhibition Power of Place or the study tour, please visit: http://www.fondsbkvb.nl

The International Triennial Apeldoorn 2008 showcases landscapes, gardens and culture for 100 days.
Power of Place
June 11 – September 28
Nettenfabriek, Spoorstraat 29 Apeldoorn (next to railway station)
Tuesday – Sunday
10 am – 5 pm