UPDATE ON ART

After my job interview in Amsterdam last week I went to an art exhibition at the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) at Dam Square on religion in modern art. These are basically works from the Stedelijk Museum who are on display while the Stedelijk is closed for renovation.

First question: why do museums always have to close their doors for years and years for renovation ? Of course they want to do it thoroughly and they want to have it look nice and usually they manage to do so. But if you have your plans ready, the contractor chosen and the finances arranged you can start and do the job, or am I naive ? The costs usually get completely out of control , questions are being asked, decisions to be reconsidered. In the meantime Amsterdam's reputation as a tourist magnet is deteriorating.

Second question: which marketing genius has decided that both the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum have to be renovated at the same time ? People come from all over the world and want to see these museums (usually after they have been to the Vincent van Gogh Museum); very frustrating if they get to the museum and have to read that they are closed. I have experienced that myself several times I was abroad. Luckily the Rijks has been able to display the star pieces in a small wing of the museums.

OK; back to the Nieuwe Kerk. I was curious to see what the influence of religion on modern art was. In my opinion modern art is a sort of rebellion against the dogmas and conservatism of the small-mindedness of the civil society, which includes religion; is religion now becoming a protest ? It started with a room with ironic and humoristic protests against the influence of religion on modern society. In my opinion also the most interesting room. I like art that has a message, without being too moralizing and leaving some room for interpretation.









GILBERT & GEORGE - SHITTY
JEFF KOONS - USHERING IN BANALITY

These two pieces I really liked. Not because they are so beautiful or nice to watch, but because these are pieces that have something to say and lead to mixed and fierce reactions (although certainly with Jeff Koons you need some explanation before you get the meaning). The church as mass hysteria that refuses to keep up with time.

The rest of the exhibition did not stick into my mind and with some works I thought the link with religion was too far-fetched. In my opinion it is not spiritual, transcedental or religious simply because there is a cross somewhere in the picture. Some of them are also successors of the religious paintings of the past, which are usually vague, with pastels and dreamy atmosphere. I like pictures to be big, confronting and with bold colours. How come ?!

MY HOPES FOR MY COUNTRY

As with all countries 2008 was not such a fantastic year for The Netherlands. Like everywhere else banks threatened to collapse and you were likely to feel depressed after hearing the news almost every single day for the last six months. Of course I hope that it goes better economically in 2009 but my main concern is that the spirit seems to have gone. How can you keep up the spirit if specialists and politicians say day after day that it gets even worse than we ever thought; what do they want to prove and what is the news value of such a statement ? They only want to be in the picture, that's all.

Losing your job is a life-changing experience, of course. But there is more to life - your health, your love, your personality, your spirit, your soul. Believe me, now I am the specialist. It is worse if that goes down the drain too. We have to keep the spirit up, even it is not easy. A lot of people have lost their jobs over the years; did we pity them or did we support them ? It is the tyranny of the masses - it only gets bad if a lot of people are involved. No, it is the individual that counts - every story is different and every life is worth for society as a whole. The last sentence I read during my study of law years ago as a rationale for why committing suicide is a criminal offence. Although I do not agree with the outcome (suicide is in my opinion an individual decision we have to respect) this rationale is so beautiful that it almost convinced me.

For 2009 I hope we are able to look beyond the economic horizon. In my country the liberty of the individual is getting more and more limited: there is the threat of terrorism, partly forced upon us by paranoia; there is the loss of privacy and attacks out of cyberspace; there is the dogma of religion, which I think is still a form of indoctrination and misplaced feeling of superiority; there is the growing hate crime, which is if you belong to a minority giving you the feeling you do not belong in society; there is the increasing dominance of the family, which pushes you as a single individual more aside and there is the growing amount of official bans of all kinds.

I want to live in a country that respects me as an individual and that gives me the courage and the liberty to live up to my potential. Ten years ago Holland was such a country - it was looked upon as a free and controversial country and was a guiding country in the world on issues such as drugs, gay rights, abortion and euthanasia. I was proud that there was an open discussion possible on these issues and that every individual could decide for himself what to do with his life, as long as nobody else was hurt. I can still remember that a lot of people abroad actually thought that we were all taking drugs and that if you are old you were given an injection to die, hilarious.

Ten years later some groups are forcing their fears and their moral superiority upon us and Holland is back in line. The moral majority rules again like in the fifties. Let us decide for ourselves; everyone has the right to make up his own decision. If you make a conscious decision and nobody is hurt - be my guest. Personally I do not care if I go to hell and don't receive 72 virgins ... if you find comfort and wisdom in religion you are lucky; count your blessings but do not bother someone else with it.

Let's hope that in 2009 the influence of conservatism and paternalism will decrease and that the influence of optimism, individualism and liberty will increase. Down to earth: this government has to go. But that is not enough. We as people also have to take our own responsibility; we get the government we deserve. We all made this country into a colourless, dull and boring country.

SPANISH FURY

As a new blogger I tend to scan all the news items that reach my ear or eye for potential posting. I had planned to write today about the presidential elections in the US (almost the only issue in the papers anyway) but then I decided to write about Queen Sofia of Spain. Oh my God, I hear you think - do I want to know. May be you need to know.


This morning I found somewhere at the bottom of a page of my newspaper a small article on a newly published biography of Queen Sofia of Spain. Normally not such an interesting event if it did not cause such a stir in Spain. Queen Sofia lines up with a lot of other public and non-public figures who consider it necessary to express negative and discriminatory comments on gays. I will not repeat them. You can read them in the links I provide at the end of this article.

After furious protests in Spain, she off course denied to have ever said such things; she was misquoted etc. Why have people the idea that it is OK to express such hurtful things and get away with it ? "I did not mean it", "I was misinterpreted"; and everything is forgotten. Sometimes I have the impression that they are even surprised that it leads to commotion; "does not everyone believe this?". A simple answer: No. Thank God.

In the last week I read, without even looking for it, several similar articles: about a priest in London, who wanted all gays tattooed with a warning for sodomy, and a member of parliament in Canada, who wanted all gays executed (what sick mind yes, you read it will: executed). And the UK and Canada are civilized countries. If it was not that sad, I could have laughed about such ridiculous remarks.

What is this ? What have we (yes, we) done to deserve this ? Is this fear, hate, ignorance, religious extremism, looking for publicity ? We will never know because they all practice hit and run tactics: express insulting thoughts and then not be available for discussion and not taking responsibility. Why do we have to put up with this ?

Off course they have a right to express their opinion, but they can do that with respect and no offense. Especially public figures, like the Queen of Spain who represents (and is paid by) the citizens of her country, should be extra careful. In the end, the Queen was backed up by Government and that is a shame, because the Zapatero administration has an impressive record on gay rights' issues and fighting the dominance of the Catholic church. Spain can be proud of its achievements in this field; they have come a long way. Maybe behind close doors a few harsh words will be said ...

Well, that is written and it feels good !! Now I can go to bed.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,587673,00.html
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Gobierno/sale/defensa/impecable/papel/Reina/elpepuesp/20081031elpepunac_4/Tes