exhibition

Catalogue Di muraya pa muraya

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Catalogue

Di muraya pa muraya
Arte di muralista kontemporaneo
From wall to wall
Art by contemporary muralists

Participants: Avantia Damberg, Francis Sling, Garrick Marchena, Jhomar Loaiza, Johanna Franco Zapata and Sander van Beusekom

Digital Catalogue
Enjoy our current exhibition by clicking on this link  Catalogue Di muraya pa muraya - Arte di muralista kontemporáneo.
Scroll through the catalogue to experience the diversity of their work from the comfort of your home.  See something you like? Contact us via info@bloemhof.cw.

Di muraya pa muraya

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Exhibition

Di muraya pa muraya
Arte di muralista kontemporaneo
From wall to wall
Art by contemporary muralists

Participants: Avantia Damberg, Francis Sling, Garrick Marchena, Jhomar Loaiza, Johanna Franco Zapata and Sander van Beusekom

February 13 to May 29, 2021

In the past years, especially the city center of Curaçao has seen a large number of murals appear on her walls.  They are expressions of a positive outlook often used to cover up crumbling dwellings.
In addition to being bold and colorful, they convey a message to the viewer and empower the youth and neighborhoods, allowing everybody to see the hidden beauty of their own ‘bario’ with renewed hope.
Avantia Damberg, Francis Sling, Garrick Marchena, Jhomar Loaiza, Johanna Franco Zapata and Sander van Beusekom are some of the many muralists who contributed to this development on the island.

Avantia Damberg is a multidisciplinary visual artist who started her artistic career with video art and animation and now focuses on collages in the broadest sense. She has painted several murals in Punda such as the 'Pundawings' and the tribute to our ‘Hidden Heroes’. In Otrobanda 'Colorful Steps' and the 'OTC tiles stairs' in collaboration with the Kaya Kaya artists are her showstoppers.  She recently finished a tribute to the immigrant population of Suffisant at the Odulio Willems Stadion.

Francis Sling is a graphic designer with a passion for music, sculpture and poetry. His paintings can be regarded as a poetic expression in color. Francis' very first mural in 2014 is the 360 ° rendition of the underwater world at the Dolphin Academy. Besides a growing number of murals in Curaçao, Francis also painted several in Aruba and in the 'International Youth Hostel Mandala' in Xining, China.

Garrick Marchena studied civil engineering and started painting in the area of Saliña in 2003. In 2009 he made his first street mural called 'Urban Angel' under the alias 'Zigski'. In recent years Garrick has painted several murals in both Curaçao, Cuba and his native island Aruba. His well-known 'Angelito Negro' was for many a first encounter with his work and for fellow artists a push to make murals in the city center.

Jhomar Loaiza is a Venezuelan artist inspired by the African roots of the Caribbean. He studied art in Coro.  In 2013 he participated in ‘The Longest Painting Festival’ here and was noticed. His first mural in Curaçao covers the doors of Ashley Mauricia's studio at Plaza Piar in Punda. He since moved to Curaçao and now has work scattered all over the island. His striking use of color and expression stand out from far.

Johanna Franco Zapata started her art education at the Instituto Buena Bista (IBB) and then went on to study Visual Arts in the Netherlands.  Art does not stand still and has different perspectives and in this process the Colombian artist takes up the challenge of constantly rediscovering herself. Her first mural, ‘Franco & Zapata’ was painted in the gardens of the IBB in 2014. One of her most recent public art projects is the revamping of the guardhouse on the way to ‘Grote Knip’ Beach.

Sander van Beusekom studied Art Direction at the Junior Academy in Amsterdam. Together with his sister Nicole, he runs the graphic design agency BLEND Creative Imaging. He is co-founder of Street Art Skalo which aims to refurbish and beautify neighborhoods, and to promote local talent. In 2019 he was commissioned by CTB to make the mural 'Tickle Me Curaçao' in Wynwood, Miami, in anticipation of the Art Basel Art Fair.

The Journey of a Sculptor

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Exhibition

The Journey of a Sculptor
From Clay to Stone

By Hortence Brouwn

Date: December 19, 2020 . Extended till February 6

The Journey of a Sculptor - From Clay to Stone
With the exhibition 'The Journey of a Sculptor - from Clay to Stone' Hortence allows the public to discover the creative journey she has gone through as an artist. For more than half a century, numerous works of art have been created by Hortence. She has exhibited locally and internationally. Her work is on display at public places and much of her work has been purchased by private collectors around the world. Although she has an outside workshop in the garden and has exhibited at several occasions in group shows, this is her first solo at Landhuis Bloemhof.
Her work varies in shape, material, and style. Over the years she has worked in clay, cement, and a variety of stones from different countries and the 'Tafelberg'. "When working with clay you work from the inside out and when working with stone you work from the outside in".

About Hortence Brouwn (1937, Surinam)
Hortence Brouwn grew up in Paramaribo, Surinam in a loving family. She studied mathematics and worked as a math teacher. During this period, she also took courses at the art academy in Paramaribo.
In 1963 Hortence moved to the Netherlands to continue with her mathematics education and to study sculpture more closely. Ten years later she moved to Curaçao.

Extra activities
A tour along the various artworks of Hortence in public places on the island is in the planning depending of the government measures regarding the COVID-19.

Visits
The exhibition 'The Journey of a Sculptor - From Clay to Stone' can be seen until January 30, 2021. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 09:00 am to 1:00 pm she works in her open workplace in the garden of Bloemhof. If you want to make sure you meet Hortence during your visit, feel free to make an appointment with her tel. 5404863. You will then be personally guided by her.

Go to the Online Catalogue 

Profundo

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Exhibition

Profundo

By Gwen Garcia

Date: November 7 till December 5

Profundo is all about Gwen Garcia’s close encounters with himself, expressed in wooden sculptures. "My emotions, my pride and my identity … all I am is in this exhibition."
As a sculptor Gwen has a style that is not so typical. Gwen combines different types of wood and seeks a connection between them through the growth rings of each piece. Creating a new unity.

For Gwen the growth rings symbolize the Garcia family's deeply rooted relationship with art and with each other. His mother always assisted his father, painter Wilson Garcia, with setting up his exhibitions. She was the driving force behind his father, but also behind Gwen. “You have to do something with your drawings, etchings and paintings,” mom said. She apparently saw much more than I did or wanted to see at the time. She never gave up trying to get through to me.”

After Gwen’s mom died in 2018, Gwen embraced his passion for sculpting and decided that it was time to show his work to the world. The influence of Gwen’s father can also be traced in Gwen’s sculptures. Subtle undertones and hidden layers invite the observer to come closer, take a second and a third look just to discover yet again something new.

Exhibition Catalogue Profundo by Gwen Garcia

‘Profundo’ is an ode to Gwen's parents. Some paintings by his father Wilson Garcia will also be part of the exhibition. And the very first sculpture Gwen made titled ‘Huntu pa semper’ will only be on display during the opening day. This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Gwen’s mother. The exhibition 'Profundo' can be seen from November 7 to December 5, 2020 and is supported by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribbean Area.

About the artist
Gwen Garcia (Curaçao 1964) left for the Netherlands after finishing high school at Radulphus College to study General Subjects at the Conservatory in Utrecht. After a year he switched to history and drawing at the Stichting Leraren Opleiding. For the past thirty years Gwen made a living working in ICT as a Technical Consultant Unix / Linux. He will soon start a new challenge with training as a furniture maker / (ship) interior builder.

Temp’i mi Ten

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Exhibition

Temp'i mi Ten
Selebrando Bida

By Saida Hernandez

Date: September 18 till October 31

The exhibition Temp’i mi ten - selebrando bida (From my time - celebrate life) shows a nostalgic collection of stories captured on canvas. These detailed stories of Curaçao in years gone by may be considered as a unique and original contribution to the preservation of our cultural heritage. Chandeliers, rocking chairs, Thonet wicker furniture, side tables, crocheted tablecloths, balconies with wooden shutters and nostalgic vistas. Everything delicately finished with the warm, cheerful colors that are so typical of Saida’s personality and her work.

Saida Hernandez (Curaçao, 1935)
Temp’i mi ten - selebrando bida is Saida's sixth solo exhibition. She has participated in several group exhibitions. In 1981 she held her first exhibition at the Curaçao Museum and again in 2005 and this marks her 4th solo at Landhuis Bloemhof.

Saida Hernandez was one of Telecuraçao's first female newscasters and program makers. She is best known for her cooking show ‘Kushina di Oro’ and the various cookbooks she has published.

‘Temp’i mi ten – selebrando bida’ can be seen until October 31, 2020. Landhuis Bloemhof is located at Santa Rosaweg 6, next to café 'Tap Maar In' and is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9:00 and 14: 00 hours non-stop, info@bloemhof.cw, www.bloemhof.cw. Like us on Facebook. Landhuis Bloemhof is wheelchair friendly and the guidelines regarding hygiene and social distancing are applied at Bloemhof.

Unlocked

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Exhibition

Unlocked

UNLOCKED

Opening Thurday July 2
Exhibition till September 12

Unlocked - Art Treasures of Curaçao
After the Lockdown we wanted to do something positive for all local artists. And the idea of 'Unlocked' was born. We changed our exhibition program and sent out an open call to visual artists working and residing on the island. More than 30 artists signed up right away. With this spontaneously organized exhibition Landhuis Bloemhof invites Curacao to get (re)acquainted with our current contemporary art scene.

Participating artists:
Annemieke Dicke, Ariadne Faries, Babette de Waele, Bert Knubben, Christy Beaujon, Doggis, Ellen Spijkstra, Francis Sling, Giovanni Abath, Giovani Zanolino, Gwen Anderson, Johanna Franco Zapata, Krista van der Meyden, Maghalie George, Marcel van Duijneveldt, Marjon Wegman, Marlies Schoenmakers, Michèle Russel - Capriles, Philippe Zanolino, Philip Rademaker, PitoPolo, Quirine van Eps, Ria Houwen, Rien te Hennepe, Robert van Haren, Rochelle Monte, Saida Hernandez, Susan Rudolf, Suzet Rosaria.
The Cathedral of Thorns by Herman van Bergen featuring over 40 works of arts by different other artists and the sculpture garden of Hortence Brouwn are also part of the exhibition. Both are permanent attractions on the premises of Landhuis Bloemhof.

Unlocked is an exhibition within an exhibition, with each artist getting his or her own space in the Landhuis or its surroundings. We are also hosting many interactive activities during the exhibition period.

UNLOCKED exhibition catalogue

Pashon Kompartí

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Exhibition

Pashon Kompartí

Opening Wednesday March 11
Exhibition till April 18

Pashon Kompartí is a duo exhibition showing mixed media paintings by Margarita Haakmat - Maduro and Mirjam de Castro. The two women did not know each other before this project and were linked together through their love for art.

Margarita and Mirjam both discovered their love for art in their youth, but only started exploring this passion later in life. In addition to workshops at Bloemhof, both ladies have followed various courses with local and international teachers. Experiments with different types of paint and materials followed and eventually they each found their own style.
Looking at the colorful canvases by the two artists one gets the impression that the same color palette has been handed out to them. And yet their artworks are very different. While Mirjam’s paintings are more abstract, Margarita gives a new meaning to depth by adding mixed media to her more realistic work.
The exhibition Pashon Kompartí is open from March 11th till April 18th 2020 at Landhuis Bloemhof.

Chika Desvestida

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Exhibition

Chika Desvestida

By Johanna Franco Zapata

Date: Friday 17 January 2020 at 7 p.m

Bloemhof opens the year 2020 with the solo-exhibition "Chika Desvestida" by Johanna Franco Zapata. The opening will take place on Friday 17 January at 7 p.m. Christel Monsanto provides the opening word.

"Chika Desvestida" is a wordplay and means "undress the undressed young lady", but also symbolizes the artist who is reforming her own artistic identity. "Chika Desvestida" reflects a dualistic feeling and the awareness process of the artist.

“My artistic education taught me that art is about freedom, but at the same time gave the impression that a work must be grandiose in order to be able to view it as art. This contradiction made my creative process stressful and unpleasant. In my work, the challenge was and remains to break free from those restrictive unwritten rules. Until now, the process of leaving behind representative and symbolic conditions has led to a minimalist way of working. "Chika Desvestida" is not seeking approval; they are my most intuitive and conscious works, with which I try to redefine things by creating my own values. I wonder where this process will lead me again. I am discovering what drives me to create art so that I am satisfied. "Says Johanna with a determined tone.

The paintings that are presented in this exhibition are mainly abstract works. Color and minimalist forms play an important role with the aim of becoming an experience for the viewer and where he can experience the work without necessarily having to understand it.