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Woody van Amen
New Realism, GRIMM Van Baerlestraat 80, Amsterdam (NL), 25 June - 17 July 2021

Woody van Amen: New Realism

Past exhibition
  • Works
  • Installation Views
  • Press
  • Press release
  • Related content
Works
  • An image of a canvas depicting two cervids on the verge of an aerial collision, diving into a blue spiral and framed by a yellow neon light bulb.
    Woody van Amen
    Constellation with Southern Cross, 1999-2000
    Oil on canvas with neon and led lights
    180.5 x 119.5 x 10 cm | 71 1/8 x 47 1/8 x 4 in
  • An image of a medium-sized canvas painted red, in its center is a white oval shape which contains the word Esso.
    Woody van Amen
    Esso, 1963
    Oil on canvas
    Framed: 92.5 x 112.5 x 3.7 cm | 36 3/8 x 44 1/4 x 1 1/2 in
  • An image of a medium-sized canvas depicting the Philips logo along with other varying shapes and colors. The canvas sits atop an ironing board with an iron weighing it to the board.
    Woody van Amen
    Philips, 1963-1974
    Oil on canvas, iron and ironing board
    Painting: 171 x 141 x 3.5 cm | 67 3/8 x 55 1/2 x 1 3/8 in (framed)
    Overall: 224 x 141 x 30 cm | 88 1/4 x 55 1/2 x 11 3/4 in
  • An image of a canvas showcasing a painting of a dirt trail leading to a lush natural landscape partly covered by tree branches.
    Woody van Amen
    Landscape with two horizons - Hunting ground, 2003
    Oil on canvas with neon and led lights
    150 x 110 x 10 cm | 59 1/8 x 43 1/4 x 4 in
  • An image of a canvas displaying a Elysian landscape which consists of orange-colored sky and planets orbiting an black oval, dotted with celestial bodies and centering a thin neon lamp shaped into a cloud.
    Woody van Amen
    Starry Night at Koh Phangan, 1997-1998
    Oil on canvas with neon and led lights
    120.5 x 160 x 10 cm | 47 1/2 x 63 x 4 in
    Sold
  • An image of a canvas painted in greens, reds, and oranges with the name Peter Stuyvesant painted on the right side.
    Woody van Amen
    Stuyvesant, 1963
    Oil on canvas
    Framed: 161.5 x 130.5 x 3.7 cm | 63 5/8 x 51 3/8 x 1 1/2 in
  • An image of a painting of three orange colored submarines floating through a minimalistic underwater landscape of varying shades of blues, greens, and yellows.
    Woody van Amen
    Aquarium, 2019
    Oil on canvas
    70 x 50 x 2 cm | 27 1/2 x 19 3/4 x 3/4 in
  • An image of a canvas depicting a snowy mountain peak against a partly cloudy blue sky, red and white plus signs lie on the center of the mountain. Alongside the centered mountain are two other images of mountain peaks with yellow symbols.
    Woody van Amen
    Panorama Matterhorn, 2006
    Oil on canvas
    50 x 70 x 2 cm
  • An image of a painting of a multi-sided, 3-dimensional yellow object hovering over a blue starfish against an aquamarine, presumably underwater backdrop.
    Woody van Amen
    Sea star, 2019
    Oil on canvas
    60 x 50 x 2 cm | 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 x 3/4 in
Installation Views
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 4
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 3
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 10
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 1
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 6
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 9
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 7
  • Installation View New Realism Grimm Amsterdam Nl 2021 Ph Cassander Eeftinck Schattenkerk 5
Press
  • Woody van Amen suggereert (in Dutch)

    Kees Keijer, Het Parool, July 9, 2021
Press release
Woody van Amen, New Realism
View works

GRIMM is proud to present nine assemblages and paintings by renowned Dutch artist Woody van Amen (1936), opening Friday 25 June at our Van Baerlestraat location in Amsterdam. The opening of the exhibition coincides with Amsterdam Art Week. 

Van Amen's long career has seen his oeuvre span a wide variety of practices ranging from painting to sculpture, kinetic art, zero and arte povera, to organizing happenings and performances. He was one of the very first artists to incorporate Perspex, neon and plastics into his work. What has remained a key component in all his works is the use of everyday elements, which he elevates to become symbols. Van Amen works with ready-mades - using material itself as a means, other than the depicted material used - and thereby making it more real and tangible.

Van Amen also employs a specific set of invented and self-referential symbols, constructed to carry both a philosophical and mathematical meaning, such as the patented symbol TAXAT. Or his signature self-symbol based on the Matterhorn mountain range.

In the exhibition three groups of three works are shown. The earliest date from 1963 and are classis 'new realism' works closely associated to early Pop-Art. Phillips (1963-1974), Stuyvesant (1963) and Esso (1963) all employ the company logo's the titles are based on. Phillips was adjusted to incorporate an ironing board in 1974 and early Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns influences can be seen in these early works. These works were part of his early career retrospective in 1977 at Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam (NL), which included work from 1963-1977.

The next three works show how Van Amen developed beyond Pop-Art and consist of a group of paintings incorporating neon and led lights. The TAXAT symbols appears omnipresent in these works. The neon used to set apart the painted surface such as in Constellation with Southern Cross (1999-2000), where the TAXAT symbols is shown to align with the Southern Cross constellation. These works show a new romanticism and influences from Van Amen's many travels abroad. A key work from the exhibition is Starry night at Koh Phangan from 1997- 1998, which depicts the earths cycle and the island's shape outlined in neon at night.

Lastly the exhibition includes three recent modestly scaled paintings, featuring the double cross motif, the TAXAT palindrome and all other key elements from his storied and rich oeuvre.

Download press release
Related content
  • Woody van Amen suggereert (in Dutch) Press

    Woody van Amen suggereert (in Dutch)

    Het Parool Jul 9, 2021
    Read more
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Keizersgracht 241

1016 EA, Amsterdam

The Netherlands

54 White Street

New York, 10013 NY

United States

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