A unique exhibition by artist Femke Kock takes art to new heights at the Euromast, celebrating Rotterdam's cultural diversity.

Unique exhibition by Femke Kock at the Euromast

A tribute to Rotterdam's rich cultural diversity, an exhibition featuring ten original works by artist Femke Kock, will be showcased at the Euromast from 31 January through 16 April 2024. High-quality reproductions of these works will be displayed on the outdoor viewing platform, allowing the visitors to enjoy them against the backdrop of the city skyline. The originals will be hung in the Euromast's restaurant during the exhibition period.

Femke Kock's exhibition reflects her vision of the city through three themes: 'Resilience and Renewal of Rotterdam', 'Cultural Diversity', and 'City Icons and Personalities'. These themes offer a journey through the city's past and present, highlighting its post-World War II reconstruction, the impressive skyline, and local heroes like Jules Deelder. Kock's vibrant style, inspired by pop art, street art, and graffiti, resonates with Rotterdam's dynamic character and the Euromast itself.

Opening event

The exhibition will officially open on Wednesday, 31 January, from 15:00 – 16:00, just before the Rotterdam Art Week, showcasing the ten paintings in the Euromast restaurant. Following the opening, a section of the restaurant will be opened to the public to view the original works, with Femke Kock available until 20:30 to engage with art enthusiasts. The photographed works, presented on large aluminium plates, will be on display from 31 January at the outdoor viewing platform, offering a unique perspective of the city.

Cultural highlights

Visitors can combine their exhibition experience with a ride in the Euroscoop, Europe's highest panoramic lift, where stories about the city complement the visual journey of the exhibition. This event marks a cultural highlight and tribute to colourful Rotterdam.

About the Euromast

An internationally renowned icon since 1960, the Euromast stands as one of Rotterdam's tallest buildings, offering a unique 360-degree perspective of the city. From its Brasserie to the concept store and the recently upgraded Euroscoop with a unique glass floor, the Euromast provides a comprehensive day out. Adventurous visitors can abseil 100 meters down from the viewing platform balustrade between May and September, with exclusive abseils available upon request all year round. Since 2020, the Euromast has been part of Magnicity, a global leader in urban tourism at great heights, spotlighting iconic towers worldwide and offering visitors a unique city experience.

Directions to the Euromast

For those planning to visit the exhibition, the Euromast is located in the heart of Rotterdam, easily accessible by public transportation or car. Nestled in the Parkhaven area, it's a landmark that's hard to miss.

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The impact of art on mental health

Studies from around the world have indicated that engagement with art can have a positive effect on mental health. According to these studies, a visit to a museum can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The benefits can be observed as quickly as 35 minutes into a museum visit. Nationale-Nederlanden has organised the NN Kunstfestival to further investigate this link between art and mental well-being, especially in light of recent data showing an increase in mental health-related absenteeism in the Netherlands.

Accessibility and inclusivity in art appreciation

The festival aims to make art accessible to all by offering discounted museum tickets and a diverse range of programmes. Museums across the Netherlands, including those in Rotterdam, are participating in the NN Kunstfestival. 

Featured exhibitions in Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam | Ai Weiwei - In search of humanity

Kunsthal Rotterdam will host an extensive exhibition on Ai Weiwei, the renowned Chinese artist and human rights activist. The exhibition will delve into Ai Weiwei's life, his early years in exile with his father, and his 2011 imprisonment. The artworks reflect his ongoing quest for humanity. The exhibition will be open for preview on Saturday, 30 September.

Kunsthal Rotterdam | Ai Weiwei - In search of humanity

Nederlands Fotomuseum | Ad van Denderen & Kunst(k)uurtje

Starting 30 September, the Nederlands Fotomuseum will feature an exhibition on Ad van Denderen, showcasing his evolution as a documentary photographer from the 1960s to the present. Visitors can also join the Kunst(k)uurtje (Art Hour) with Ageeth de Waal, a medical faculty teacher at VU University, to explore the health benefits of engaging with art. The programme welcomes everyone, regardless of their level of experience or knowledge in art.

Nederlands Fotomuseum | Ad van Denderen & Kunst(k)uurtje

How to get there

Directions to Kunsthal Rotterdam and Nederlands Fotomuseum

Both museums are conveniently located in the Museum Park area, easily accessible by public transport or by car. The area is known for its cultural vibrancy and beautiful park settings.



    

ROTTERDAM, 3 November 2023 – A unique photography exhibition showcasing Rotterdam's women starts 10 November in the Maastunnel.

Unique photo exhibition in Maastunnel spotlights Rotterdam's women

In a collaboration between Stichting Wijkcollectie and Museum Rotterdam, a unique photo exhibition will be displayed along the escalators to the historic bicycle and pedestrian tunnel under the Maas in Rotterdam, starting 10 November. Photographer Marie Cecile Thijs, in association with these organisations, will showcase nine women recognised as Echt Rotterdams Erfgoed (Real Rotterdam Heritage), each paired with an item from Museum Rotterdam's historical collection. The photos will be exhibited on both sides of the Maastunnel escalators in the coming months, with the opening ceremony led by city poet Elfie Tromp.

The city's story through its women

The exhibition celebrates the numerous women who contribute daily to Rotterdam's fabric, thereby writing the city's history. Among the hundred others, these nine women, captured by Rotterdam's own Marie Cecile Thijs, represent a bridge between past and future. On one side of the escalators, they are photographed with historical artefacts from Museum Rotterdam, while on the opposite side, their initiatives for inclusion in Echt Rotterdams Erfgoed are displayed.

A call to women

Nicole van Dijk, director and co-founder of Stichting Wijkcollectie, emphasised the historical underrepresentation of women in public discourse and cultural collections. She views this exhibition as a call to women to assert themselves and pave the way for future generations, contributing to the city's history.

Joyce's story

Featured in the exhibition is Joyce de Lima from Echt Rotterdams Erfgoed. She runs Speeltuinvereniging Jeugdveld in Zuidwijk, a welcoming playground especially for families with limited resources. Despite Zuidwijk's challenges like poverty and loneliness, Joyce's initiatives, from organising trips for the elderly to providing bread to those in need, paint a picture of community spirit and support.

Directions to the exhibition

The photo exhibition is located in the Maastunnel, accessible via the bicycle and pedestrian tunnel. The Maastunnel area is easily reachable by public transport and has ample parking facilities for those driving. It's an iconic location, combining historical and modern elements of Rotterdam's urban landscape.

 

BRUTUS Space in Rotterdam is set to unveil “Pilot,” an exhibition featuring three significant works by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra. The exhibition aims to spark conversations around societal inequality, control mechanisms, and the underlying economic systems. It will be open from September 2 to November 19, 2023.

Santiago Sierra's Artistic Endeavors

Three major works by Santiago Sierra (1966) will be displayed. Known for his art that oscillates between social sculpture, performance, and political activism, Sierra aims to provoke discussions on societal issues. The exhibition is intended as a precursor to a long-term collaboration between Sierra and BRUTUS Space.

The Works on Display

The exhibition will showcase “Paintings Made by a Fire Breather”, consisting of 17 canvases created by a Mexican fire breather and stretched by a local artist. Captured on film, the canvases transcend mere records of fire damage and acquire aesthetic value, reminiscent of the minimalist art of the 1960s and 1970s.

Sierra's most recent work, “The Maelström,” will also be featured. For this piece, Sierra employed numerous Gambians to perform a series of basic movements taught by the police for arrests or frisks. Unlike Bruce Nauman's “Walking” videos, the Gambians perform these movements with their hands behind their heads or backs, often facing a wall or in a kneeling position.

Controversial Undertones

Sierra's art has regularly been deemed controversial. His third work to be displayed, “245m3 (part I and II),” involved filling a former synagogue in Pulheim, Germany, with car exhaust fumes. Visitors could walk through the space wearing gas masks, evoking industrial and institutional death. The work also alludes to the Holocaust gas chambers, adding layers of meaning and interpretation.

About Santiago Sierra

Sierra is known for performances that employ unskilled workers to perform seemingly pointless tasks. By labelling these activities as 'art,' Sierra changes the way we perceive them, highlighting the economic systems that enable such 'services' to be purchased.

Directions to BRUTUS Space

BRUTUS Space is located in the heart of Rotterdam, easily accessible by public transport. The area is vibrant, filled with other art galleries, cafés, and boutiques.