The Hague Sculpture 2008: FREEDOM - American Sculpture: (including) Barbara Bloom, Matthijs Bosman, Louise Bourgeois, James Lee Byars, Paul McCarthy, Anna Craycraft, Sam Durant, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Dan Graham, Hans Haacke, Keith Haring, David Herbert, Jenny Holzer, Natasha Johns-Messenger, Donald Judd, Sol Lewitt, Matt Mullican, Louise Nevelson, Roxy Paine, Bernard Rosenthal, Julian Schnabel, Joel Shapiro, Kiki Smith, Mark di Suvero, James Turrell, Bill Viola, Kara Walker, Meg Webster, Lawrence Weiner and Iona Hoogenberk, winner of the The Hague Sculpture 2008 Rabo Aanmoedigingsprijs.
We are delighted to invite you to the festive opening of The Hague Sculpture 2008 which will take place in the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague on 6 June 2008, commencing at 14.30 sharp. The exhibition of FREEDOM will be opened by the new mayor of The Hague, Mr Jozias van Aartsen. In the spirit of the theme of the exhibition, the opening will have the character of an American talk-show with a wide-ranging variety of guests and performances. The presentation will be hosted by Willem Post, Senior Visiting Fellow to the Clingendael Institute and known for his media performances as an America expert.
Under the title of FREEDOM, from 6 June to 31 August 2008, the area on and around the Lange Voorhout will be presenting a surprising overview of developments in American sculpture in the last 50 years. In addition to wellknown sculptures and high-profile artists, new works of art by talented young artists will be exhibited that have been specially created for the exhibition. Artists Matt Mullican, Lawrence Weiner and Barbara Bloom have also been inspired by the theme and each produced a new work for the exhibition.
The Hague Sculpture's programme includes a wide range of new activities. In cooperation with STROOM Den Haag, the FREEDOM Outposts Route takes you past highlights of American art and architecture in The Hague. On the exhibition grounds there will be two presentation spaces with a varied programme of American video art. The Hague Sculpture will be taking FREEDOM into local neighbourhoods and presenting talks on the theme in various branches of the Public Library, providing guided tours by foot, bicycle or bus, and on 29 June will hold a FREEDOM Speakers' Corner. We are naturally once again offering the Publieksprijs [People's Choice Award] in cooperation with AD/Haagsche Courant, and also the exciting new Hague Sculpture 2008 Rabo Aanmoedigingsprijs [Incentive Prize] for one of the students of the KABK [Royal Academy of Visual Arts]. For our full programme of activities this summer please see our website: www.denhaagsculptuur.nl.
The Hague Sculpture will be holding FREEDOM in the period of the American presidential elections which will end on 4 November 2008, but are currently raging in full intensity. For many people, ever since 1776, the United States, 'land of the free has been the embodiment of unlimited opportunities, possibly precisely due to the country's dearly won (personal) freedom. Today in 2008, the redefinition of freedom all over the world is an increasingly important challenge. Freedom is and always will be a fascinating concept, at the same time simple and complex, universal and personal, immediately evocative as it is of each person's own meaning. With FREEDOM, The Hague Sculpture not only aims to show what FREEDOM means for artists, but also wishes to reflect on what the concept of freedom means for us, the visitors.
FREEDOM links up seamlessly with the international cultural and political-social ambitions of The Hague, that presents itself as an international city of peace and justice. At walking distance from the Binnenhof, the political heart of the Netherlands, this eleventh edition of The Hague Sculpture will be open free of charge 24 hours a day and 7 days a week as in former years. On behalf of the board and the team of The Hague Sculpture, we hope very much that you will be able to attend our FREEDOM opening.