PoP Visits: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
Amsterdam. Historically a hugely important European city, today a globally-renowned cultural hotspot. Steeped in history, and modern-day pioneers of liberalism, freedom, creativity and expression, Amsterdam is considered a second home to those of a creative disposition.
We paid a visit to the famous Stedelijk Museum, which showcases some of the best the world has to offer in contemporary art and design. The museum, as you can imagine, is spectacular. Check out our pictures below for more info, and by all means, take a trip there yourself!
Being situated next to the Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s most famous collections of artefacts, and indeed next to the gallery of one of the world’s most celebrated artists (Van Gogh), would perhaps be tough acts to follow. Stedelijk is far from cowed by this however, with yearly visitors regularly surpassing the 700,000 mark. It has also been around since 1874, so it has as much historic licence as any of Europe’s cultural institutions.
The collection at Stedelijk is both visually stunning and hugely comprehensive, totalling 90,000 objects. No art or design movements from this century nor the last is neglected, boasting the inimitable likes of Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Rineke Dijkstra
Of particular interest this time around, was the exhibition showcasing the work of cherished Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra. As stated on Stedelijk’s website:
“This year, the celebrated Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra (Sittard, 1959) is the recipient of the 2017 Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography, the medium’s most prestigious award. In honor of Dijkstra, the Stedelijk Museum, who has followed her work since the 1990s and in 2005 mounted an international traveling survey, presents Rineke Dijkstra: An Ode, a snapshot of the artist’s photographic and video work ranging from 1994 to the present.”
Bright, white, and gleaming; Stedelijk stands unapologetically from the corner of Museumplein. Its sleek exterior gives way to a calm, minimalist interior, on the one hand it fulfils your expectations of a leading European museum, on the other hand it is strikingly unique – from its family photo lab to its large, carpeted room with a projector, Stedelijk does not disappoint.
If you’re in the neighbourhood, be sure to stop by – Print on Paper fully approves!
