Folkert de Jong became famous in the last decade for the masterful sculptures that can be found in exclusive collections around the world. Middelheim Museum may also remember him. In 2006, when he was still relatively unknown, he took part in the Long Live Sculpture! (Lang Leve Beeldhouwkunst!) group exhibition. He was back a year later for a residency. And now, the open-air museum is offering de Jong a solo project, for which he is creating a display with new bronze figures.
Folkert de Jong’s world is populated with circus artists, soldiers, art collectors, Indian gods, mountain climbers, little dancers, apes, heads of state, sunbathing girls, happy-go-luckies and skeletons. The figurative installations devised by de Jong, which are embedded in the (often mysterious) history or meaning of a location, combine an ironic reference to the Old Masters with a substantial amount of the present. He combines historic figures or situations with a contemporary visual language or objects. Fiercely beautiful figures have ambiguous relationships with each other and with their environment. The dark side of human nature is the driving force behind this Dutch artist’s work. De Jong is fascinated with the opposition between pomp and circumstance on the one hand and the obscene reverse side of the display of power.
With regard to materials, Folkert de Jong usually prefers mass-produced media that are rarely found in art, such as polystyrene or composite foam. They are not meant to last forever, nor are they environmentally friendly. It is precisely these unsettling properties that interest the artist. The worthless material owes its appeal to the precise execution of the work and the concise use of colour.
For his exhibition at the Middelheim Museum, de Jong has chosen to create a display of eleven new bronze sculptures, both figures and still lifes, that will be visible in and around the Het Huis (The House) pavilion. At first glance, the display may look very traditional. A closer look reveals the disruptive impact on the harmonious statue park. The artist relates timelessness to decay, art history to its relevance, freedom to compulsion.
Artist Talk
Folkert de Jong gave an exclusive artist talk on Saturday morning, 26 October. A unique opportunity to get to know the artist and his work close up.
De Sokkel #6
At the same time that he is putting together his solo exhibition for the Middelheim Museum, the Dutch artist is also creating a piece for De Sokkel #6 (The Plinth #6). For De Conference Act, he gained inspiration from street artists (such as jugglers), who come up with the most spectacular tricks to attract the attention of passers-by.
With their contemporary art project ‘De Sokkel’ (The Plinth), the Klein Antwerpen neighbourhood association and the Middelheim Museum invite a(n) (inter)national artist to produce a topical piece for an empty plinth in the Stadspark (City park) twice a year. The artists’ works not only stir up the discussion on the role of art in public spaces, but also draw the public’s attention to the historical City park in a positive manner. Other artists who have successfully contributed to De Sokkel project in the past are Henk Visch (NL), Ria Pacquée (BE), Cristian Bors & Marius Ritiu (RO), André Romão (PT) and Ilaria Lupo (IT).
Practical information
Exhibition Amabilis insania. The Pleasing Delusion
- From 26 October until 6 April 2014
- Location: Hortiflora
- Opening on Saturday 26 October at 2.30 p.m., performance Folkert de Jong + Tol/Cogan at 3 p.m.
- Catalogue: bilingual publication in Dutch/English – Available from the museum ship as of 26 October, you can subscribe beforehand by e-mail tomiddelheimmuseum@stadantwerpen.be
- Introductory film in NL, EN (hall of the castle)
- Free visitor text in NL/FR/EN
- Children’s workshop (9 - 12) on Wednesday 30 October
Artist Talk
- On Saturday 26 October at 11 a.m.
- Venue: aula T.105 campus Groenenborger of the University of Antwerp (UA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp
- Admission: free
- Register by e-mail to middelheimmuseum@stadantwerpen.be stating “inschrijving artist talk” in the header of your e-mail.
- The Artist Talk is in Dutch.
De Sokkel #6
- From 6 October until 20 April 2014
- Location: City park near the play area and the skate park, Quinten Matsyslei, 2000 Antwerp
- Opening on 6 October at 11 a.m.
- ‘De Sokkel #6’ is a co-production of the Klein Antwerpen neighbourhood association and the Middelheim Museum
- Further information: www.kleinantwerpen.be - www.middelheimmuseum.be