P/////AKT - A Conversation with the Founders
Maria Constantinescu
Student of Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics
An emphasis on individuality, followed by polarization, have created cleavages in the art world, altering the space for artistic expression and making it subject to scrutiny from new angles. Nienke Vijlbrief and Rob van de Werdt, the two remaining founders of P/////AKT, challenge such perceptions. Their non-profit gallery supports young artists focused on solo acts, emphasizing the uninhibited unleashing of artistic expression.
This became our philosophy: to trust the artist, to support the artist, to offer time, space, budget and freedom for artists to experiment and take relevant steps. We invited them to develop something new and to include the exhibition space as a ‘mental space’: the thinking space of the artist and for the audience to step into, so to speak. Gradually, we became known for these large-scale solo productions that would transform the given context.
P/////AKT was born out of the combination of multiple initiatives, combining a background in art history (Nienke Vijlbrief), artist-run ventures (Rob van de Werdt), fashion and design and so forth. When asked about it, Nienke Vijlbrief suggests “It was very energetic and a bit chaotic…”, which ultimately led to a merger, focusing on larger productions altogether. This has allowed the organization to focus on emerging artists, aiding in their development at points of inflection in their careers.
The pro bono nature of their work has led to some hiccups in planning, as certain programmes had to be discontinued. Such was the case with P/////AKTPOOL, an initiative meant for fine arts graduates to be eased into their professional careers through select exhibitions at the gallery. The lack of budget resulted in the discontinuation of the project, as was the situation with SALON – a former-toilet-turned-archive – and some international collaborations. These changes did however mark the birth of a new genre of activities at a new location: “Because it’s much smaller we decided to add extra ‘space’ in the form of a box: the Special Cases are produced with each solo project” says Vijlbrief. Similarly, P/////AKT has also expressed some concern over the expected governmental plans, to which the non-profit is very much financially tied.
Nevertheless, the salience of such artistic spaces must be stressed. “P/////AKT fulfills an important role in the professional development of young and mid-career artists, as well as in the local and national network of exhibition presentation facilities and art institutions.
We are proud to have successfully provided over 500 artists with a platform and guided them in taking important professional steps.
Such spaces provide some stability in the rather volatile art world, which is undergoing drastic changes, among which are “acceleration and superficiality”, suggests Vijlbrief. “We like to be intrigued”, which is why the “unorthodox” and curious nature of artists ought to be nurtured. While P/////AKT does not claim to be a political organization, it does recognize the inherent nuances accompanying artistic practices. Yet these are to be encouraged, for, according to Nienke Vijlbrief, artistic productions open up the conversation through questions, rather than proposing socio-political answers.
Artists are part of society, and have the capacity to reflect on things in unorthodox ways, which gives us room to think and can help us sharpen the mind.
Providing a platform for open conversation lies at the core of P/////AKT, however restricted the availability can be. The size of the space and its limited budget make the selection process particularly complicated, yet Vijlbrief offers the following advice: Conversation and networking. “Stay true to yourself and find what suits you and your work. One way of doing that as well as helping your visibility is to start organizing and create your own opportunity!”. The expansion of networks is particularly important for both the artists and the organization, as it constitutes one of the most significant facets of their relationship - in conversation both before and after the exhibition.
Using social media, newsletters and their own website, P/////AKT aims to increase its visibility. The commercial activities it partakes in are rather limited, as “we do sell publications and small editions” yet “this is a very small part of our income, which is largely subsidized. A perpetually fragile state”. However, this represents only a small part of the organizations’ work, as the emphasis, of course, lies with the freedom of the artists. The success of artworks, in terms of revenue, is not part of the considerations.
Currently, P/////AKT is hosting Nora Aurrekoetxea’s exhibition “I am a body in a body of air”, which will run until June 16th. Lauded by Nienke Vijlbrief as an artist with “a specific flair and sensitivity for her materials”, Aurrekoetxea creates abstract structures, inviting the viewers to succumb to their imagination. Emphasizing space (and the absence thereof), they seek to open a conversation on the ontology of the self.
There’s not just one message, not just one way of experiencing the work. It’s inviting to encounter, to walk around and to zoom in to the details. There’s a visible curiosity and playfulness in how the works were produced - the artist herself is allowing things to happen and sharing that with the audience.
As a non-profit organization, P/////AKT fosters such artistic manifestations, rendering the art space more diverse and inclusive. By placing the artist and their artwork first, the increasingly politicized nature of the industry and the detrimental selectiveness it leads to are somewhat dissipated. Nevertheless, it remains important to allow the art world to run its course, while keeping a critical outlook on silencing voices.
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