Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Stedelijk Museum)
Jump to: navigation, search
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
White and glass building
The entrance side of the museum
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam
Location within Amsterdam, Netherlands
Established 1874[1]
Location Museumplein 10[2]
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Coordinates 52°21′29″N 4°52′47″E / 52.358056°N 4.879722°E / 52.358056; 4.879722Coordinates: 52°21′29″N 4°52′47″E / 52.358056°N 4.879722°E / 52.358056; 4.879722
Type Modern art, contemporary art[3]
Collection size 90,000 items[4]
Visitors

138,720 (2011 est.)[5]
300,000 (2012 est.)[6]
Director Karin van Gilst (managing director)[7]
Curator Ann Goldstein (artistic director)[7]
Public transit access Tram: 2 Tram line 2, 5 Tram line 5, 12 Tram line 12[2]
Bus: 170, 172[2]
Website www.stedelijk.nl

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (colloquially Stedelijk) (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsteːdələk myˈzeːʏm ˌɑmstərˈdɑm]) (English: Municipal Museum Amsterdam) is a museum for modern art, contemporary art, and design in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.[8][9] It is located at the Museum Square in the borough Amsterdam South,[2] close to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Concertgebouw.[10]

The museum was founded in 1874. The current building was designed by Adriaan Willem Weissman and opened its doors in 1895.[11] Between 1945 and 1954, the museum was renovated and the floor space was doubled.[12] Between 2003 and 2012, the building was again renovated and a new wing designed by Benthem Crouwel Architects was added. The museum was reopened for the general public on 23 September 2012.[13]

The collection comprises modern and contemporary art and design from early 20th century up to the 21st century. It features artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Karel Appel, Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Marlene Dumas, Lucio Fontana, and Gilbert & George.[9]

Contents

History [edit]

 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2012)

19th century [edit]

The old building of the Stedelijk Museum was opened in 1895

The Stedelijk was founded in 1874, it was then housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.[11]

The museum's own building opened its doors in 1895. The Neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Adriaan Willem Weissman. The construction was financed by dowager S.A. Lopez Suasso-de Bruyn and the heirs of the merchant banker C.P. van Eeghen, among others. They bequeathed their collections to the museum. The building housed a number of collections including militaria of the Amsterdam militia, Asiatic art, the Museum of Chronometry and the Medical-Pharmaceutical Museum. The Association for Forming a Public Collection of Contemporary Art also regularly held exhibitions here.

20th century [edit]

The museum first began to collect art in 1909. P.A. Regnault donated a number of pieces by renowned artists such as Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Wassily Kandinsky and Pablo Picasso. In 1934, the Museum for Modern Applied Art was also housed in the same building. Today, the Stedelijk has one of the world's finest collections of art and design objects, with groundbreaking designers including Marcel Wanders, Ettore Sottsass and Studio Job. During the Second World War, the Stedelijk collection and that of the Amsterdams Historisch Museum, were transferred for safekeeping to a bunker in the sand-hills near Santpoort. Museum staff took turns keeping watch. Director Willem Sandberg only just managed to evade arrest; in 1943, when a German search party was sent to apprehend him, Sandberg fled by bicycle into the dunes. Despite the upheavals of war, the Stedelijk continued to hold exhibitions.

Dutch newsreels about guidances via hearing devices, 1952

Outstanding works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Henri Matisse were added to the collection at the end of the 1940s and 1950s. During this time, the Stedelijk also acquired artworks by De Stijl and related international movements such as Russian Constructivism and Bauhaus. In 1954, the annex known as the 'Sandberg Wing' was built to accommodate experimental art; the annex was demolished in 2006. The demolition got off to a symbolic start: council member Carolien Gehrels threw a stone through one of the windows, causing a storm of protest in the press. The museum's famous CoBrA collection, dating from the 1950s, was augmented, and is now one of the museum's rich and exciting core collections. In 1958, Sandberg acquired a unique group of works by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich. In the same year, Sandberg began acquiring photography for the museum’s collection; the Stedelijk was the first western European museum for modern art to collect photography. The collection includes seminal photographers of both the Dutch and international avant-garde in the interbellum period (such as Erwin Blumenfeld, László Moholy-Nagy and Man Ray), an extensive selection of post-war Dutch photographers (including Eva Besnyö, Ed van der Elsken and Cas Oorthuys), artist portraits, photojournalism and autonomous fine art photography from the 1970s onward.

In the 1960s, New York became the most influential international centre for the fine arts. Museums began exhibiting the Abstract Expressionist work of Willem de Kooning, the Color Field painting of Barnett Newman and the sculpture of minimalist artist Carl Andre, while Pop Art flourished with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.

Video art was also coming into its own and, in the early 1970s, the museum made its first acquisitions of video work by European artists including Dibbets and Gilbert & George. Today, the collection of video art contains around 900 works and installations by Nam June Paik, Bill Viola and Bruce Nauman. In the 1980s and 1990s, the accent shifted to include South America and, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Ilya Kabakov's impression of a Russian school library, Skolnaje Biblijoteka (1995), is one such example.

21st century [edit]

In 2001, a remarkable group of drawings by Kazimir Malevich and other Russian avant-garde artists from the collection of the Khardzhiev-Chaga Cultural Centre enriched the museum's collection of Russian art.

Temporary location of the Stedelijk Museum in the building Post CS

At the end of 2003, the Adriaan Willem Weissman building was closed at the insistence of the fire department and renovation work could begin. The Stedelijk took up temporary residence in the Post CS Building where it would remain for 4.5 years, until the building had to be returned, empty and stripped. [2] The SMCS period was one of great activity and a profusion of exhibitions. In 2006, debates and lectures were organized in the context of the exhibition 'Mapping the City' which explored the relationship of artists to the city. A space was created – 'Docking Station' – for monthly presentations of work by emerging artists. In 2008, 'Other voices, other rooms', an exhibition highlighting the video work of Andy Warhol, was a huge success, drawing 600,000 visitors. 2005 marked another watershed during this time, when the museum established a partnership with The Broere Charitable Foundation; on behalf of the Monique Zajfen Collection, the museum acquires contemporary European art works, which are placed with the museum on long-term loan.

From late 2008, the Stedelijk was undergoing major construction and described as a 'museum without walls'. In responding to this situation, an innovative and dynamic project, 'Stedelijk goes to Town' was announced allowing the museum to continue its strong visual presence within the city of Amsterdam. The project ran until the latter half of 2009 and featured a series of workshops, lectures and presentations in various locations throughout Amsterdam.

From August 2010 until January 2011, the Stedelijk Museum opened its doors with a unique program called The Temporary Stedelijk in the restored, yet unfinished historical building. After the success of welcoming 'art, artists and the public' back through its doors, the Stedelijk continued with this temporary program. The Temporary Stedelijk 2[14] opened in March 2011 and focused on the renowned collection of modern and contemporary art and design. The exhibition showcased the breadth of the museum's collection and exhibited works by Piet Mondrian, Kazimir Malevich, Charley Toorop, Henri Matisse, Donald Judd, Willem de Kooning, Yves Klein and Bruce Nauman, among others. Selections from the collections were presented on a rotating basis. Distinctive aspects of the collection were highlighted in two thematic presentations: Recollections and TV as.... The Temporary Stedelijk 3[15] began in October 2011[16] and featured exhibitions, presentations, and activities located throughout Amsterdam.

The museum reopened for the general public on 23 September 2012.[17] In the first month after the reopening, the museum had over 95,000 visitors.[18]

Incidents [edit]

Still life with bottles and apples by Paul Cézanne was stolen in 1988

Vandalism [edit]

On 21 March 1986, Gerard Jan van Bladeren cut the painting Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue III (1967) by Barnett Newman with a utility knife during a psychosis. He was convicted to eight months in jail and two years probation. He was banned from the museum for three years. On 21 November 1997, the same man cut the painting Cathedra (1951), also by Barnett Newman. He had an insanity defense and was not convicted. But this time he was banned from the museum permanently.[19]

On 15 May 2011, the victory of AFC Ajax in the national competition was celebrated at the Museum Square. During the celebration, supporters damaged the roof top and glass panels of the Benthem Crouwel wing of the Stedelijk Museum. The damage to the building costed a total of 400,000 euro.[20] In 2012, the victory of Ajax was not celebrated at the Museum Square, but near the Amsterdam Arena instead.[21] The city government believes the Museum Square is still a suited location for well planned mass events.[22]

Art theft [edit]

On 20 May 1988, the first and only art theft from the Stedelijk took place. The three paintings Vase with Carnations (1886) by Vincent van Gogh, Street in Nevers (1874) by Johan Jongkind, and Still life with bottles and apples by Paul Cézanne were stolen during a break in. On 31 May 1988, all three painting were recovered undamaged by the police, while they pretended to be buyers. The thief was arrested and convicted.[23][24]

Collection [edit]

Question book-new.svg
 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2012)
La Berceuse (1889) by Vincent van Gogh
Woodcutter (1912–13) by Kazimir Malevich

The museum collection holds almost 90,000 objects (current on 25 February 2010), collected since 1874. With important clusters and cores focusing on De Stijl, Bauhaus, Pop Art and CoBrA and, more recently, Neo-Impressionism, the collection represents virtually every significant movement in art and design of the 20th and 21st centuries. The Stedelijk also has a comprehensive collection of drawings and paintings by Kazimir Malevich. Key pieces by Post-Impressionists Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh exemplify art from the late 19th century. The collection is sub-divided into the following disciplines:

Building [edit]

 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2012)

Weissman building [edit]

The façade of the Weissman building

Adriaan Willem Weissman, architect of the city of Amsterdam, designed the building for the museum in 1895. With its design of the upper façade and tower in a combination of pale stone and red brick, the exterior references 16th century Dutch Renaissance architecture. In 1938, Sandberg had the interior walls painted white, creating ‘white cube’ gallery spaces. When he had the opportunity some years later, in 1954, a largely glass extension arose, flanking the Van Baerlestraat. It came to be referred to as the ‘Sandberg Wing’. Sandberg also replaced the museum’s heavy, rather uninviting doors by a glass entrance.

Benthem Crouwel wing [edit]

The new wing of the museum

Due to poor maintenance and the lack of modern facilities, including climate control, the building was no longer able to meet today’s standards. Nor did it have the space to feature the highlights of the collection on permanent display; since its beginnings, over a century ago, the collection had vastly increased. The art depots and workshops had also become far too cramped. In 1993, a leak in the roof of the museum damaged several large paintings, among them pieces by Ellsworth Kelly and Julian Schnabel.[25] A competition was first held in the early 1990s, with Robert Venturi beating Rem Koolhaas, Wim Quistm, and Carel Weeber to the job; Venturi was replaced by Alvaro Siza Vieira in 1996.

The building was forced to close in January 2004 as it no longer complied with fire regulations. After further discussions about whether to relocate the contemporary art museum in an Amsterdam park, a new jury eventually awarded Benthem Crouwel architects the renovation and construction contract for their daring design for the new building, fondly referred to as the ‘bathtub’. The new Stedelijk will have an exhibition surface area of 8000 m2; double its previous gallery space.

When Alvaro Siza had originally designed the plans, the reopening was scheduled for 2007. In 2004, when a new competition was held it became clear that this date was not achievable. Although the renovated original building was completed in early 2010, conditions were not suitable for exhibiting artworks because there was no climate control system; this will be installed in the new wing. The press poured criticism on the delays. A campaign by Dutch cultural entrepreneur Otto Nan, ‘Stedelijk Do Something’, urging people text their disappointment at the delays, drew considerable media attention and a huge response from social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Otto Nan hoped that what he referred to as an ‘amicable coup’ would attract political attention with an occupation of Museumplein. Moreover, by sending SMS messages, people could raise money to help the museum re-launch a little sooner. The re-opening, previously heralded for spring 2010 [13], was later moved to 2012. The restored original building went ahead and opened in 2010.[14].

After eight years of work, the new Stedelijk opened in September 2012. With the renovation and expansion, the highlights of the collection are on display in the old building (in a series of changing presentations). The new wing (fondly referred to as the ‘bathtub’) primarily hosts experimental, compelling exhibitions and film and video art. There are three main elements to the new building: a large glassed entrance, which opens onto Museumplein, upper-level temporary exhibition galleries in a structure nicknamed “The Bathtub” and a basement with a substantial display area for the permanent collection. Most of the €127m project has been funded by Amsterdam’s city council.[26]

Organization [edit]

Originally a municipal body, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam attained the status of stichting, or independent foundation, on 1 January 2006, and is accountable to a Supervisory Board.[citation needed]

Visitors [edit]

The museum had an estimated 138,720 visitors in 2011[5] and 300,000 in 2012.[6]

Directors [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Organization: history, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2012-09-20.
  2. ^ a b c d Visit us: address and directions, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2012-09-20.
  3. ^ Patricia Cohen, Stedelijk Museum Announces Reopening Plans, New York Times, 2012. Retrieved on 2012-09-20.
  4. ^ Collection: conservation, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2012-09-20.
  5. ^ a b (Dutch) Top 55 Museumbezoek 2011, Nederlandse Museumvereniging. Retrieved on 2013-01-20.
  6. ^ a b c (Dutch) Top 55 Museumbezoek 2012, Nederlandse Museumvereniging, 2012. Retrieved on 2012-01-02.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Organization: Directors, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2013-01-24.
  8. ^ Organization: Mission, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved om 2012-09-26.
  9. ^ a b Stedelijk Museum, I Amsterdam. Retrieved om 2012-09-26.
  10. ^ Museumplein, I Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2012-09-26.
  11. ^ a b Organization: History, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved om 2012-09-26.
  12. ^ Organization: Building, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved om 2012-09-26.
  13. ^ Stedelijk Museum opens september 23rd, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved om 2012-09-26.
  14. ^ The Temporary Stedelijk 2 - Focus on the Collection. Stedelijk Museum. Retrieved on 2012-03-29.
  15. ^ Stedelijk @. Stedelijk Museum. Retrieved on 2012-03-29.
  16. ^ Stedelijk @. Stedelijk Museum. Retrieved on 2012-03-29.
  17. ^ (Dutch) Niels Posthumus, Drukte bij heropend Stedelijk Museum – rijen van 150 meter lang, NRC Handelsblad, 2012. Retrieved on 2012-09-24.
  18. ^ (Dutch) Anouk Eigenraam, "Al meer dan 95.000 bezoekers naar het Stedelijk Museum", NRC Handelsblad, 2012. Retrieved on 2012-11-03.
  19. ^ (Dutch) Geen celstraf voor vernieler van schilderij Barnett Newman, Trouw, 1999. Retrieved on 2012-09-27.
  20. ^ (Dutch) Vier ton schade Stedelijk bij huldiging Ajax, de Volkskrant, 2011. Retrieved on 2013-01-20.
  21. ^ (Dutch) Hans Klis, Vijftigduizend mensen bij huldiging Ajax, NRC Handelsblad, 2012. Retrieved on 2013-01-20.
  22. ^ (Dutch) Dennis Koch, Mogelijk weer huldiging Museumplein, AT5, 2011. Retrieved on 2013-01-23.
  23. ^ (Dutch) Drie jaar geëist voor kunstroof, Reformatorisch Dagblad, 1989. Retrieved on 2012-09-27.
  24. ^ (Dutch) Françoise Ledeboer, Bestrijding van kunstdiefstal in Nederland pover, Algemeen Dagblad, 2005. Retrieved on 2012-09-27.
  25. ^ Marlise Simons (January 21, 1993), Rain Soaks U.S. Art in Amsterdam New York Times.
  26. ^ Martin Bailey (September 18, 2012), Stedelijk reopens after eight years’ of work The Art Newspaper.

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stedelijk_Museum_Amsterdam&oldid=550962850"