As you slowly shuffle past, you observe the work. Calmly you gaze sitting on the wooden museum bench. Quietly staring at performers in a gallery. There is no need to experience art alone, and certainly not always in silence. We like to encourage conversation. We love talking about art. This is why Het HEM and the Vrije Academie present Kunstsalon. Here, we invite visitors to learn to look collectively and formulate observations. Every Kunstsalon we discuss one work by an artist we want to know more about. Their artwork takes centre stage in the impressive Jacob de Witte room of Huis Vasari on the Herengracht–a safe space to look, learn to trust and form your own judgement, without prior knowledge. A blank experience, where you cannot read up or prepare. To best experience this collective art experience, we ask you to hand in your phone. Like a concert or theatre performance, we challenge you to concentrate fully on the work and interaction with your fellow visitors.
In the first round of discussions, the artist is not present. As a group, we observe and discuss what we see. We share different ideas and ways of thinking and collectively gather new insights in the process. Guided by an art historian, using* Visual Thinking & Visible Thinking *strategies, we get closer and closer to the core of the work. In the end, everything revolves around how you relate to art: what is it that you see and what is it that you feel?
In the second round, the artist joins us. What he/she/they see in the work and how it came to realisation forms a new layer of meaning in the conversation between the artist, moderator, and audience. We narrow the gap between what the viewer experiences and what the maker intends: all observations are welcome and valid.
Vrije Academie and Het HEM look forward to welcoming you during Kunstsalon: a series of evenings with works by diverse artists, in collaboration with Amsterdam galleries and organisations Sexyland, Annet Gelink and Madé van Krimpen. On 22 September, 13 October and 24 November, we will discuss art with you, in Huis Vasari at Vrije Academie. Please note that these events will be held in Dutch.
*Programme 2023 *
Friday 22 September | Kunstsalon #1 in collaboration with Sexyland
Friday 13 October | Kunstsalon #2 in collaboration with Annet Gelink Gallery
Friday 24 November | Kunstsalon #3 in collaboration with Madé van Krimpen
All events take place at Huis Vasari (Herengracht 366, 1016 CH) in Amsterdam.
Walk-in is at 19:30, start at 19:45, break at 20:45 and end at 22:00.
