Sense of Touch
Artists and their use of material
Curated by Atelier Barbara Broekman

The exhibition Sense of Touch offers a powerful experience by means of exciting use of material, bold visual interventions and a surprising and expressive approach of image,
atter and subject.

The focus of the exhibition is on the role material plays in the work of the artists Harmen Brethouwer, Barbara Broekman, Gijs Frieling, Arjan van Helmond, Marc Mulders, Maria Roosen, Gé Karel van der Sterren, Berend Strik, Mary A. Waters and Tom Claassen. The artists bring up different subjects in their work and use various materials and crafts to give shape to these subjects. It is visible that the selected artists have mastered the traditional materials and techniques they work with. The starting point for this exhibition is the accessibility, the physical component, the tactile, visual and plastic attraction of the work.

In addition to the emphatic presence of the material, the insight into the process of creation plays an essential role in experiencing the artwork. The process of human creation becomes visible and tangible. It is a quest for balance between emotion and reason, heart and head. During the process of creating labour goes hand in hand with insight. The self-awareness comes into being. In creating man realizes himself. The strong presence of the material and its application also determine the content of the artwork. The exhibition shows that all kind of material and technical choices preceded the work. At the centre is the visual communication of the works.

In Sense of Touch the spectator’s senses are stimulated. The works seduce to look. But for true satisfaction of the senses the works should be touched. Is it hard or soft, rough or smooth, heavy or light, cold or warm? Actually touching the artworks is not possible. One should touch with one’s eyes, experience the material and subject by looking and recognizing. This recognition happens in several layers of consciousness. The exhibited works remind of images, objects, experiences, emotions and desires. Both by what is represented and by the materials and techniques used.

Documentary
During the exhibition a documentary is showing in which the emphasis is put on the coming into being of the artworks. The actions that are carried out to make the works come into being are shown by filming the artists in their studios. In this way the spectator gets an impression of the process hidden behind the final result which the spectator gets to see. We’ve asked Laura Hermanides (direction/ documentary) and Lea Fels (production) to organize and realize this film. They are third year students at The Netherlands Film and Television Academy. Laura Hermanides is specialized in filming spherically.

Publication
We’ve also developed a publication, in which Hans den Hartog Jager has written an article. The documentary is included in the publication as a DVD.

Motivation
Because in the present exhibition-offer Broekman misses certain subjects by which she sets great store, she decided to go into action herself. From a personal need as an artist the idea has come into being to make an exhibition about the role material and the process of creation plays in the work of artists. Broekman is convinced that in this way art becomes more accessible, more tangible and more understandable for a broader audience. Seeing, understanding and recognizing the process of creation makes contemporary art less distant.