Art Archives - Page 2 of 3

The Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven Puts your Imagination to Work

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

When Tom and I are visiting the Netherlands, we always frequent different museums. The Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven is regularly on our list.

The museum houses modern art in the form of paintings, drawings, sculpture and video art. The building is fantastic on the inside. There are quite a few different exhibitions, both short-term and long-term, so there is always something that really appeals to us.

I have an important criticism that I will address in this article, but it has little impact on my feelings. It is a fantastic museum that is well worth a visit.

Inspiring Spanish Sculptor Juan Muñoz Commemorated in 2023

October 25, 2023October 22, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

In 2023 sculptor Juan Muñoz would have turned 70. He died way too young, obviously, at the age of 48. Yet he leaves behind an impressive number of sculptures and drawings with enormous expressive power.

It is not entirely coincidental that Tom and I have seen much of his work in Spain. We are both fans!

To commemorate him, there were exhibitions of his work in various places in Spain in 2022/2023. Although the best-known of his works were on display in several of them, the exhibitions were very diverse, each with a different emphasis on a particular period.

What Styles or Subjects Inspired Visual Artists in the 1960s?

October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

In the last quarter of 1969, aged 16, I went to Art school to become a teacher in visual arts and crafts. At that time I did not read any national or international newspapers, my parents were subscribed to the local newspaper.

The turbulent 1968 and the artistic expressions of that time had passed me by completely unnoticed. The academy became a pressure cooker of historical insight and political awareness.

I was lucky that my art history and art appreciation teachers were very enthusiastic and were really good at transferring their enthusiasm to their students. Not just on visual artists in the 1960s of course, but on art history in general.

Is the Remote Situated Kröller-Müller Museum Worth Visiting?

October 2, 2023October 2, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Most tourists visit Amsterdam or the Randstad region when they go to the Netherlands. There is nothing wrong with that because both the city and the area have a lot to show.

Personally, I don’t like crowds much myself, so when I still lived in the Netherlands I usually went to other parts of the country.

I have always found the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kröller-Müller Museum worth visiting. In every season, although we were longer inside the museum in the winter and spent more time outdoors in the summer.

Enjoy Art for Free with these 17 Attractive Tips

September 25, 2023September 25, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Art sometimes has an elitist character. Artists are partly the cause of this – yes, guilty, me too at times *blushing* – by stating that the public does not understand our art and thus creating an unnecessary distance.

Self-proclaimed art lovers are partly the cause of this by being haughty and feeling they stand above the masses. While of course, everyone can enjoy art. And don’t worry: not all art needs to be understood or even liked.

In my (free) eBook “How to get the most out of a visit to the museum” I give tips to enjoy art, but museums usually require an entrance fee.

So how can you enjoy art for free?

The Inspiration, Process, and Results of my Abstract Ceramics

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Until 2016 I was a ceramicist. Nowadays I still consider myself an artist but I no longer have a kiln and work in other materials and other forms of art.

My ceramics was focused mainly on sculptural and abstract forms.

On previous occasions, I wrote about my photography. And made several How-To-articles about ceramics, but here I want to introduce you to my abstract ceramics*.

* Abstract means it’s not recognizable as a real or figurative subject

How to Make an Impressive Ceramic Memorial to Remember

September 18, 2023September 18, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

The biggest advantage of clay is that it is a flexible material as long as it is not fired. The downside is that the lifespan is short in some cases.

Sometimes such a short lifespan is the intention. In this article, I want to show the power of making a ceramic memorial, which was not supposed to last long.

An artist’s clear reasoning for allowing their work to be temporary can add an extra level of significance to their work.

Is it Important to Identify Different Drawing and Painting Techniques?

August 21, 2023August 21, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

In another article, I listed drawing and painting tools and materials. That is one way of classifying creative possibilities. Another way of identifying is by naming drawing and painting techniques and the style in which they are applied.

Techniques, materials, tools, and ways of using them are highly connected. Still, it makes sense to look at and organise them separately, because then we can work in a purposeful way. And we have handles for an artistic view of the work of others.

Postmodern Architecture and my 3 Favourite Heroes

January 25, 2024August 18, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Architecture has become more interesting since the 1970s than it was before. The New Objectivity movement was sleek and practical, but it ran the risk of becoming boring. A much-needed change was brought about by postmodern building.

The term postmodern architecture (1970s-present) is confusing in my opinion, as is the name modern or modernist architecture (1890s-1970s). Modern means contemporary while by now the modernist architecture movement is almost obsolete.

After all, what should the next movement be called, post-postmodern? But since this is the term everyone uses, I comply. 🙂