After a small intermezzo -my article about the exhibition ‘The Art of Banksy’ in Amsterdam- I now continue with my series about Groningen.
Today I’m taking you to the Groningen Museum, one of my favorite museums in the Netherlands.
The architects and designers clearly were not shy with colors! Cool!
What I love about the Groningen museum
When this museum was built (1994) I no longer lived in Groningen. Too bad, since my last house in Groningen was located practically around the corner of the museum. I would have frequented this museum so, so often!
Ah well, that’s life. It did -and does- not stop me from visiting the Groningen Museum from time to time. As part of a city trip to Groningen, it is well worth the travel.
The building is unique, colorful and unorthodox
Alessandro Mendini, a big name in New Design and Postmodernism, as the main architect, contracted others, like Philippe Starck, Michele de Lucci and Coop Himmelb(l)au, to work together and create this unique building:
One wing of the Groningen Museum.
The museum looks like a modern castle, with towers and a moat, don’t you think?
Another part of the museum. As you can see, the museum lies partly under water.
I love the diversity in used colors, patterns and materials! But I guess you are not surprised when I tell you that the building was considered to be quite controversial at the time. I guess it’s a building that you either love or hate.
That intense blue!
When the museum was built, I was very excited to find out about the architects and designers they had chosen, since I was very much ‘into’ those myself at the time.
Gold, verdigris and statement patterns. What’s not to love?!
The bold use of vibrant colors and the playfulness of the designs of the Memphis group appealed enormously to me and it definitely inspired me in my home decor back then.
Mendini collection at the Groningen Museum. I craved for the small blue lamp on wheels that you see on the wall in the far right upper corner of this picture.
Not the best pictures, but this collage shows how Mendini and Alessi influenced my home decor at the time. The small table on the left is very clearly Mendini-style. I painted the enormous cupboard upper-right in a multitude of colors. I still love it, but my ex took it with him to his new house. Bottom-right a detail of a Klee-carpet that we had back then. It got ruined at one point, but I forgot how that happened.
My love for Memphis and Alessi has faded, as far as my own home goes, but I still appreciate their role in (post-)modern design.
And I still love the architecture and design of the Groningen museum. Also on the inside of the museum.
Staircase in lobby near entrance.
Other side of the same staircase. Pretty neat, right?
Tit-lamp anyone?
Well hello there!
The museum has interesting permanent collections
It should be no surprise that creations by Mendini, Alessi and examples of Postmodernism are part of the Groningen Museum’s permanent collection.
A Mendini-Chair placed on a mirroring pedestal, allowing me to create this fun photo. Yes, that’s me.
Another important collection of the museum is art by De Ploeg (1920-1930). I’ve always been a fan of the art by the members of this artists’ association. Their use of color is strong and different, reminding me of artists like Kandinsky and other Expressionists. Some work of De Ploeg belongs more to Impressionism.
Here are two examples:
Jan Wiegers - Music Hall
Johan Dijkstra - Small church in Oostum
The permanent collection is not all contemporary though. A major part of the museums’ collection has to do with the history and culture of the city and the province. From silverware to pottery and a lot more.
Groningen Museum’s temporary exhibitions are innovative and contemporary
The museum shows a lot of contemporary art, gathered in interesting exhibitions.
In the past they had e.g. Iris van Herpen and recently David Bowie, to name just two:
The last time I visited the museum, I enjoyed very much the following exhibitions that were on:
- Bernhard Willhelm and Jutta Kraus, two fashion designers. Fascinating how they incorporated historic fashion elements into a contemporary collection for men.
- Nacho Carbonell
Carbonell sees objects as a kind of organism that people can bring to life by/when using them.
Some of the creations looked like cocoons or nests. Shape and material makes one think of Hieronymus Bosch here and there. Some moments the work felt cosy to me, like something to curl up in. At the same time there definitely is a spooky, eerie atmosphere around Carbonell’s art as well.
- The myth of the electric guitar. In this exhibition the guitar collection of Luc Henzig was mixed with the guitarist paintings by Oliver Jordan. Many of the guitars on display were once played by legendary rock musicians. Wow, what a collection!
Tip
When in Holland, DO consider a weekend trip to Groningen city and province, folks. If possible, make it a friday and a saturday, since sundays can be be a bit ‘dead’ and dull in the Netherlands.
Groningen city has so many great shops (next article) that you want to have enough time to explore them all!
What do you think of this museum? Do you like the architecture? What about the collections and exhibitions? Would you pay the Groningen Museum a visit?
This looks like an amazing spot to visit! So many interesting pieces.
Those Carbonell pieces are creepy.
bisous
Suzanne
Yes, they were a bit creepy, although there was another artist whose work was way more creepy!
Fantastic. Thanks for sharing this. I never knew. Shall we go and visit it together one day?
Greetje
Good idea! It’s a plan!