In his first solo show in the Netherlands, Stephan Blumenschein (NL/AT) continues his study of the exhibition space at the site of its opening. Set up as three situations in and around P////AKT, the artist observes how visitors move, structured by moments of suspense and rest: gathering at a sliding door at the entry before it opens; listening to a record inside with a few others; being read to on a boat as it drifts along the canal in the rear. Blumenschein asks visitors to read through movement just as one listens to a song with a tune and a rhythm. The space in this exhibition is one of waiting, maybe even of giving. It wants to be a space to appear, in which a politics could happen. Yet it is also fabricated. If waiting is a tool, it can open doors, adjust the volume depending on one’s desire for intimacy.
The artist received this voice message in response: listen here.
Stephan Blumenschein (1983) is an Amsterdam-based visual artist. He questions thinking with and making exhibitions through the spatial and temporal organisation of the opening. Recent work with architectural intervention, text and music includes Moving across and through, evening gaze (exhibition with Janine Schranz and Maike Hemmers, New Jörg, Vienna, 2020), In Repetition and Hesitation (text published in contemporary matters, Vienna, 2020) and Protocols 1, 2 and 3 for exhibition documentation (published in Kunstlicht, on view at Plat, Amsterdam and stolen while on view at P////AKT, 2020) and his series We are listening to a record (2019 – ongoing) in which records selected by guests are played in full for a small group. He is a graduate of the Dutch Art Institute.
On Saturday 5, Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 September 2020 a boat ride with performance was offered as part of the exhibition. The recording of the event is the subject of the video installation ‘The Boat Ride’ currently on display in Blumenschein’s exhibition.
—Exhibition dramaturg, writer and editor
Janine Armin
—Graphic design
Bram van den Berg
—Performers
Frederique Pisuisse, Marek van de Watering
—Musicians
Susanna Gartmayer, David Schweighart, Christoph Hehn
—Recording and sound
Manuel Mitterhuber
—Documentation
Baha Görkem Yalim, Jacob Dwyer, Charlott Markus
—Seatings
Clara Amaral, Nicola Arthen, Franz and Annemarie Blumenschein, Bastien Gachet, Leonie Kuipers, Simon Lindell, Stefan Rois, Finbar van Wijk, Maia Sorensen and Mirko Lazovic, Nienke Vijlbrief and Rob van de Werdt, Flora Woudstra
The exhibition is made possible thanks to the support of Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Mondriaan Fonds, Ammodo.
The video documentation of the exhibition is available here.
Video and edit by Baha Görkem Yalim.
COVID//////19
For the time being we will follow the protocol for cultural spaces and kindly request you to do the same. Please consider the following before and during your visit;
- Refrain from visiting when you are experiencing (minor) health issues such as a head cold, a runny nose, a cough, a sore throat, a raised temperature or fever and/or shortness of breath;
- 15 visitors are allowed inside the space at the same time. By visitors in this case we mean individuals, couples, roommates and small families of two or three people;
- You are required to always keep a minimum distance of 1,5 meters from other visitors and staff;
- Wearing a face mask is recommended;
- For visiting the toilet and/or S/////ALON we require you to thoroughly clean your hands upon entering and leaving with the provided soap/disinfectant. We will make sure that all door handles and such will be properly cleaned after each visit;
- Hand-outs, sadly, cannot be left behind for reuse. Please take them with you or dispose of them in the designated bin
In general we think it will not be necessary to make a reservation, so do feel free to drop by during the announced opening hours. However, we would appreciate it if you’d announce your visit through Facebook (pm) or email (info@pakt.nu). Upon entering we will ask you to provide us with a phone number and/or email adres in case we need to communicate any contaminations connected to our space.
