Behind The gallery: Gallery 9 Contemporary Art
What do a great piece of art and a good haircut have in common? Exactly: Gallery 9.
The gallery, hair studio and art consultancy Dick Bouwma are all housed in an elegant canal side building on the Keizersgracht. Upstairs in the gallery paintbrushes, varnish and canvas are the topic of conversation; meanwhile scissors, hair masks and dye are being discussed in the ‘souterrain’ space downstairs. It’s all about combining art with personal style. In the end, just like a good haircut; a great piece of art is always worth the investment!
Hair salon Gallery 9, hair expert Andy Jee.
Combining forces
The traditional gallery as we know it is being threatened nowadays. According to the economist and art historian Olav Velthuis, the physical gallery is in danger of extinction. A combination of high rent and low visitor rates has forced galleries to reconsider their business models. Gallery 9 came up with an innovative solution. Since 2013 the gallery owner Dick Bouwma and hair expert Andy Jee have combined their professions. Within a special ambiance, surrounded by abstract contemporary art, you can receive a professional hair treatment. For both professions, craftsmanship is the most important selection criteria.
Dov Shlein; ‘Dagboek’, 30x24 cm.
Stripped to its essentials
The number 9 is a recurring element. In 1989 Nine van Caldenborgh established gallery 9. Bouwma who took over the gallery in 2009 preceded the use of her logo, a stylized 9. Bouwma proudly wears a stylish breastpin of the logo almost every day.
The focus of Gallery 9 lies on non-figurative and mostly minimalistic contemporary art, both two and three-dimensional in form.
Most of the artists represented by gallery 9 have already established their artistic careers. Experimenting, in their cases, belongs to the past. These artists have reached the essence of their work in its purest and most minimal from.
For example, Dov Shlein (1936), whose art may be described as conceptual and minimalistic. The almost monochrome surfaces have been carefully worked out. Shlein’s triptych Diary mostly refers to his childhood memories of being a prisoner in a war-camp together with his family. The artist has translated his feelings into a story told through mixed media. The strength of its conviction lies in revealing just a little versus laying everything bare. His work is like an autobiography covered by a veil, an abstract representation of his personal history.
Munira Naqui; Untitled, 30,5x23 cm.
Living organisms as material
The artists that are represented by gallery 9 often make use of organic materials within their pieces. The works have been made up of living or formerly living organisms.
Munira Naqui (1955) for example uses encaustic, a combination of beeswax and tree resin as her primary material. She combines this with different pigments on her panels. Her triptych displays an abstract play of line, space and the relationships between different colours.
Another example is the work of Rob van Leeuwen (1959). Over the years his desire to work more closely with the earth became stronger. For his 'blue source 3' he used natural matter like sand, lime and stone to replace traditional artistic materials. His hands replaced traditional artist’s tools and he also relied upon the forces of nature for its completion. Living near to the mouth of the river Rhine, he connected with the source of the river through his work, following the artistic stream that was initiated.
Left: Rob van leeuwen; Blauwe bron’, 60x40 cm.
Right: Martijn Duifhuizen; Untitled (301-15), 36x36 cm.
Matter of luck
Above all it’s important that an artwork captures and retains your attention. The playful work of Martijn Duifhuizen (1976) has been left open to your own interpretation, and change is the key element. The throwing of the dice will determine what is carved out. The work can be visualized in four different ways and can create up to 95 billion possible compositions.
These works are currently on show during the holiday season exhibition at Gallery 9. The group exhibition represents 19 different artists and offers small and affordable artworks with the holiday season in mind.
For more curated art also have a look at Gallerease!
