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Hoogspanningslijnen / 340 KV trace

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Is art? Yes perhaps it is ….. It is landscape architecture at the largest scale possible.

We noticed from early May the steady progress of the Trace of the high voltage lines between Nieuwe wetering and Rijpwetering. We can follow this progress, because we sail frequently the Ringvaart which is crossed by this Trace of high voltage lines. It is part of the new ring of voltage lines between the largest cities in the Netherlands. They stand like large sculptures in a landscape and are very impressive. Height is on average 55 meters, and they surely can not be missed. You see them from a large distance and they alter the landscape in a unlikely way.

The Netherlands has a long history with these immense masts in the landscape and this was recognized by Arij de Bode who made a beautiful publication on just these large masts which look like large sculptures. The book contains great photography by the best in dutch landscape photography and is available at www.ftn-books.com

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Fritz Glarner and Haus Konstruktiv

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In my last blog on the Haus Konstruktiv i ended with ( to be continued ) and that was not without reason. When i visited this museum in Zurich, I mentioned that i was disappointed but that is only part of the story, because i was also very surprised by an unexpected beautiful reconstruction of the Fritz Glarner office he made for the Rockefellers. They were admirers and according to the thank you note they sent were very happy with the result and…..i can fully understand why. Floor, walls and ceiling are covered with Glarner designs and the large table in the middle with the chairs makes the room complete and one of the most beautiful reconstructions i ver have seen. This room only is worth the visit of the Haus Konstruktiv….don’t miss it when you are in Zurich.

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There are some Fritz Glarner publications available at www.ftn-books.com

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Raul Cordero (1971)

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Raul Cordero was born in Cuba in 1971 and influenced by the Americam Conceptual artist like Nauman and Baldessari. There are not many Cuban artist that rose to fame in the Western world but Cordero together with Wifredo Lam ( Blog next month) is definitely one of them and of course there is a relation between the Netherlands and Cordero too, because he studied at the Rijksakademie.

The publications are rare and very hard to find , but i was fortunate to find probably the most important book on his works until this date . The book was published on the occasion of the Cordero exhibition held in Salamanca (Spain) on his works from 1996-2002. The book is rare and those booksellers that have a copy ask high prices for it. Check for my price at www.ftn-books.com, where this title is now available too.

His art education started in Havana (Academia San Alejandro and Instituto Superior de Diseño) and as said his influences mix an interest in conceptual American artists such as John Baldessari, Bruce Nauman or Chris Burden -who later informed his conceptual training- together with elements of the 12th century’s Flemish painting tradition, acquired during his postgraduate formation in the Netherlands (Graphic Media Development Centre and Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten). Cordero has held visiting professorships at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, Cuba; The San Francisco Art Institute, California and The Art Academy of Cincinnati, in Ohio, U.S.A.

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Another rare Wim Crouwel designed catalogue

Last weeks i presented the GEDRUKT IN JAPAN catalogue from the Stedelijk Museum as one of the best from the sixties by Wim Crouwel.

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Now there is another one which is far less known, extremely rare and a typical Wim Crouwel design. Year of publications is 1977. A publication year in which Wim Crouwel was part of the Total Design agency and worked ao. together with Daphne Duyvelshof. The catalogue was commissioned by an institution that wanted to present contemporary Hungarian art in The Netherlands. From the names presented only a few have become popular in Modern Art. Among them Dora Maurer who had her exhibitions all over Europe since, but most of them stayed rather obscure names in art.

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The catalogue however has become important because of the design. A very nice “construction ” of horizantal and vertical letter. The colors used are from the Hungarian national flag, making it immediately clear what the subject is about. The catalogue and Maurer print areavailable at www.ftn-books.com

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Franz von Stuck (1863-1928)

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If it was not for the van Gogh Museum, not many would have known of Franz von Stuck in the Netherlands, but because of an exhibition in 1995/1996 his works are now much better known over here. The impressive catalogue is available at www.ftn-books.com.

From humble Miller’s son to prince of artists in Munich: the career of Franz von Stuck is the dream of every artist. After the young Stuck caused a stir with his first major painting, The GUARDIAN OF PARADISE he was suddenly the centre of attention in the art world.

In works such as Sphinx and SIN he reflected the Symbolist themes of the age, concentrating on the erotic and highly dramatic aspects. The flat decorative compositions and the focus on the essential, without superfluous detail, ensure that his art is still relevant today.

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The book available at www.ftn-books shows exactly why von Stuck is important for todays art. The focus on the most important part in a composition is what nowadays artists do in abstract painting. This is the link between von Stuck and todays contemporary abstract expressionist art.