GER VAN ELK ART | BASEL 2016 HALL 2 BOOTH J12
GER VAN ELK Amsterdam, 1941 – 2014
Ger van Elk made a significant and highly personal contribution to the development of conceptual art. With this feature at Art|Basel, GRIMM emphasizes on the importance of the artist and his influence in conceptual art from the seventies until today. Ger van Elk’s work had been exhibited in numerous international museum and gallery exhibition such as MoMa, New York, the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York. Recent exhibitions include Kunstverein München, La Casa Encendida, Madrid, The Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo and the Art Institute of Chicago. His work can be found in many institutions and museums around the world such as Fondazione Prada, Milan, Francois Pinault Foundation, Venice, Tate, London, MoMa, New York, the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, and the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven.
Ger van Elk at RA3, Arte Povera +, Aziono Povere, Amalfi, 1968
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The more recent works on show are all linked by The Adieu; an important theme for Van Elk about final goodbyes. This can be the portrayal of formal goodbyes such as in his framed video works Adieu a K. (2004) and Talking Trees – Window (2004), but could also be said about his Conclusion series (2007-2012) with which Van Elk says his goodbyes to the idleness of digital photography. The Conclusion series consist of painted over photographs of different urban and rural landscapes, a historically Dutch genre, that are pulled into abstraction by the multiple layers of paint. The color of the acrylic paint is based on the main colors of the landscape. The landscape of the photograph becomes invisible, but the brush strokes in the paint form a cloudy pattern that establishes a new landscape. The title of the series, ‘Conclusions’, implies an end. Possibly the end of painting, or photography, but the blank canvases can simultaneously be seen as new beginnings.
Adieu a K. 2004 15 inch harddisc, LCD-screen, framed Edition of 5 55 x 62 cm | 21.7 x 24.4 in
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Conclusions II - Vejer de la Frontera “Red” 2012 Acrylic paint on photograph on canvas 123 x 126 x 5.7 cm | 48.4 x 49.6 x 2.2 in
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Conclusions I – Paris “Perfume” 2008 Acrylic paint on photograph on canvas 96 x 102 x 4.5 cm | 37.8 x 40.2 x 1.8 in
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Talking Trees - Window 2004 15 inch harddisc, LCD-screen, framed Edition of 5 55 x 62 cm | 21.7 x 24.4 in
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The Co-Founder of the Word O.K. (Marken) nr 6. 1971 - 1999 Color photograph in plexiglass frame 71 x 71.5 cm | 27.9 x 28.1 in
Though ‘concept’ plays a primary role in the work of Van Elk, his practice is marked by sensitive, often poetic qualities, while the execution and form of the works never lack his involvement —as demonstrated by his frequent physical presence in photographs, such as in The Co-Founder of the Word O.K. (Marken). In this photograph Ger van Elk portrays the word ‘OK’. Set in the distingtively Dutch village of Marken the artist is walking with a smoked sausage dangling on a stick, carried over his shoulder as a knapsack. This work is the perfect example of Van Elk’s typical Dutch humor and the touch of absurdism that is often present in his work.
FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
How Van Elk inflates his left foot with his right one 1969 S-8 mm transferred to 16 mm color film, 16 mm projector, projector table, looper, mirror, cloth A photographic study, the original 8mm film and the shoes that Van Elk wore in the flim come with the work. Selected Exhibitions Ger van Elk - Art & Project, 1970 Ger van Elk - Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 1974 The Cadillac and the Nun, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven 1999 In Search Of... Bas Jan Ader & Ger van Elk, GRIMM, Amsterdam 2015
documentation at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 1974 first exhibited at Art & Project, Amsterdam, 1970 FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 In Search Of... Bas JanWWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM Ader & Ger van Elk, GRIMM, INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM
Amsterdam, 2015
Piece made in one hour 1968 Wooden joints, tiles, sailcloth, lace 31 x 100 x 100 cm | 12.2 x 39.4 x 39.4 in
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FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
Little man behind the door 1999 Door, wood, 16 mm projection, slide projection, plinths Dimensions variable Selected Exhibitions The Cadillac and the Nun, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven 1999 In Search Of... Bas Jan Ader & Ger van Elk, GRIMM, Amsterdam 2015
FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
FRANS HALSSTRAAT 26, 1072 BR AMSTERDAM, TEL: +31(0) 206752465 The Cadillac and the Nun, Van Abbemuseum, INFO@GRIMMGALLERY.COM WWW.GRIMMGALLERY.COM
Eindhoven 1999
Corner plinth 1969 Wood, silk, decoration trim 9 x 200 x 14 cm | 3.5 x 78.7 x 5.5 in
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GRIMM
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