Art Walks podcast
Right in the centre of Rotterdam, wedged between the spectacular Central Station and the swirling West-Kruiskade, rises the concert hall de Doelen. Not only a music temple, but also home to an impressive art collection. How did one of the most important post-war art collections in the country come into being?
Since the opening of the music temple in 1966, thousands and thousands of feet have walked over the work of Rotterdam artist Wally Elenbaas, a semi-abstract floor mosaic that heralds the entrance to the Grote Zaal and the music in a special way. And who hasn't leaned against the marble relief work by Frank Nix next to the bar on the first floor during a festive opening night? Or secretly softly touched Barbara Hepworth's impressive sculpture ‘Curved Form’ during the break while the murmur of concertgoers in the hall below rose?
In the Dutch podcast series Art Walks, Mieke van der Linden talks to writer/philosopher/historian/art expert Siebe Thissen about the origins and background of the collection.
In the 9-part series, a second guest joins each episode to shed light on a specific aspect of the collection. In addition, 11-year-old Chloë, the girl next door to de Doelen, gives her own unique view of the works.
Director: Babs Assink
Presentation: Mieke van der Linden
Technique & editing: Iwan Pronk
Main guest: Siebe Thissen
Chloë's view: Chloë
With: Sandra Smets, Sadeigh Memarian, Stijn Kemper, Rens Muis, Woody van Amen, Jeroen Erosie, Annemiek van Wegen-Delhaas, Tanneke Barendregt, Christine Rusche, Sandim Mendes and Anuli Croon.
Music: Benjamin Herman 'Namely You' by Gene de Paul and Johnny Mercer.
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the podcast is spoken in Dutch
Episode 1: The Beginning
How did the famous art collection of de Doelen come about? Which artists were commissioned and by whom? And, also not unimportant, who paid for the purchases? Siebe Thissen did extensive research into the collection and tells us all.
Episode 2: The British
About the important works of Barbara Hepworth, Jacob Epstein and Bernard Meadows. Who were they? How did all those British people end up in de Doelen?
With art critic Sandra Smets, author of the book ‘The Firebird Generation’ about the lives of Rotterdam artists in the aftermath of the bombing of 14 May 1940.
Episode 3: Textiles
Dust, spiders, moths and stains. After almost 60 years, the tapestries by Wil Fruytier and Lex Horn were in dire need of cleaning and repair. Textile restorer Sadegh Memarian joins us to talk about the process. And discovers a major misunderstanding about one of the works.
Episode 4: Marble
The story about the many types of marble in de Doelen. With the artworks of Frank Nix, Bouke IJlstra and Wally Elenbaas as a highlight.
Stijn Kemper from Boijmans Zuid and Het Verhalenhuis tells about the artist couple Elenbaas/Hartog and how Katendrecht was forbidden territory for the Germans during the war.
Episode 5: Design
Siebe Thissen sheds light on the famous Dakfoyer, designed by the artist/architect duo Jan Wijsbroek and Carel Wirtz. Rens Muis from design agency 75B talks about the designer of de Doelen logo: Benno Wissing from Total Design. Why does de Doelen flower by Wissing have such eternal value, what is so good about it?
Episode 6: The Rescue
How did the large work by the important reconstruction artist Louis van Roode end up on the 3rd floor of de Doelen? How did restorer Annelies Toebes technically manage to move Dijkzigt to the Willem Burger Foyer? A typical Rotterdam feat. Artist Woody van Amen and former assistant to Van Roode joins Siebe.
Episode 7: The Hidden Walls
In the Van Cappellenzaaltje, Siebe Thissen and Mieke van der Linden talk to art critic Sandra Smets about the tile work of Rotterdam reconstruction artist Kees Franse, which is displayed next to the Artists' Foyer.
Episode 8: The Piggy Bank and the Legs
Siebe Thissen and Mieke van der Linden talk about two new acquisitions by two Rotterdam artists who died far too early: Madeleine Berkhemer and Harry Sengers.
Episode 9: The New Walls
The 3 newest works of art in de Doelen have brought the male/female ratio in the art collection a little more into balance. Anuli Croon, Sandim Mendes and Christine Rusche tell presenter Mieke van der Linden and her wingman Siebe Thissen about the backgrounds of their work and how they tackled it in those enormous spaces.
