art

Summer exhibit of my works in Saint Ursanne, Switserland

Exciting news!

In the coming summer of 2018 the galerie "le Caveau" situated in the beautiful old town of Saint Ursanne will host a solo show of my work.

The old bridge of St Ursanne, built 1728, that leads to the mainly 14th century town. To reach the gallery, cross the bridge, take the first left after the gate, and you will find the medieaval cellar that is the gallery in a small courtyard just be…

The old bridge of St Ursanne, built 1728, that leads to the mainly 14th century town. To reach the gallery, cross the bridge, take the first left after the gate, and you will find the medieaval cellar that is the gallery in a small courtyard just behind the town hall. (Image taken from myswitserland.com)

The opening night will be on saturday the 21st of july, and the exhibition will run until the finissage on saturday the 12th of august.

Saint Ursanne is a beautiful little medieval town in the Jura, close to the Swiss-French border. The galerie is part of the communal cultural organisation "Ursinia" that is promoting the cultural life of the region, offering several exhibition sites as well as an artist in residence program in the valley of the Doubs, the river Saint Ursanne is located on.

Entry and courtyard of the galerie. Images taken from their website.

Entry and courtyard of the galerie. Images taken from their website.

Legend has it that the name of the town goes back to the irish monk that lived a hermit life here in the 6th century in a cave -that can still be visited- together with a bear. He is said to be the patron saint of people with a stiff neck. (Them caves are drafty!) Later, in the 11th century, a church and monastery were built, which are still there - and also available for exhibits.

stursanne03.jpg

I am proud that the members of the board of Ursinia decided to include my work in their programme for 2018 and hope to see you on either the vernissage or finissage of the event, to raise a glass with me and see the works up close and for real.

I am looking very much forward to it!

More exhibits for my work in the coming year are being discussed right now, and hopefully they'll come through as well. I will keep you updated!

See you in the summer!

 

The Monkey King arrives at the ball. Indeed, he will be there too.

The Monkey King arrives at the ball. Indeed, he will be there too.

Offene Ateliers Stadtfest Bern

Today and yesterday the building I have my studio in, Das Alte Loeblager ("The old Loeb stockbuilding") held open days, as part of the cityfeast of Bern Bumpliz, a suburb of Bern that apparently already exists as a town for a thousand years and only recently was added to the city of Bern.

There were many people visiting, we did a small exhibit in the shared exhibition space where three of my works were featured, I shared my businesscards and got some good tips from people about the Art world of Bern. Colleagues served fresh mint tea and snacks and I got to know some more neighbours from upstairs, and to sample some of the singing talent that the sound studio on the fourth floor is curating.

The local newspaper "The Bund" came by to take pictures of the various ateliers and have a little chat, and I was very glad to be featured in their online reports about the many activities during the Stadtfest. (You will have to scroll down to find the tidbit about me)

My utmost thanks to all visitors for showing interest in my work. -it is always a joy to see people looking intently to my work- and hopefully till soon at an exhibition elsewhere.

 

My atelier in Bern

What a difference!

To be able to speak the language, to move through society unaided, to look and ask for things easily, makes all the difference. It took me two years to get a studio in China, in Bern, one of the groomed, polished, neatly organised cantons of the Swiss federation, (there is not a thing here that is not groomed, polished or organised) it took me a total of three weeks. Long live the internet and the simple roman script!

My new studio is in "Das Alte Loeblager" once a storage building for one of the more fancy warehouses of Switzerland, now a creative and entrepreneurial 'breeding ground' for artists, designers, musicians, small businesses, you name it. It is a dusty, slightly unorganised place, which pleases me - there is only so much polishing, grooming and organisation I can deal with, after China - that smells of the academy and a student house's kitchen combined. It has light, it has true heating, it has internet, it is a on a 15 minute bikeride through everyday fresh air from my house. What else could I ask for?

Well, for the intercontinental movers to take less long for bringing our stuff from halfway over the world... but that would be pushing it, I realise.

(EDIT: halfway september 2015 all my stuff arrived, and I could start for real in this new space which suits me very well indeed)