About the event
Continuing the James Gallery’s investigations into the construction of narratives of modernity and its implications for building museum collections, Charles Esche (Director of Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, The Netherlands) will discuss this contemporary art museum’s experimental approach towards art’s role in society—where openness, hospitality, and exchange of knowledge are valued. How do the policies as well as the program of such a public institution unlock new story-lines and open new points of access? The museum’s collection of approximately 2700 works of art includes key works and archives by Lissitzky, Picasso, Kokoschka, Chagall, Beuys, McCarthy, Daniëls and Körmeling. Esche is co-director of Afterall Journal and Books and a board member of Manifesta. His curatorial projects include 5th U3 triennial in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2010); 3rd Riwaq Biennale, Ramallah, Palestine (2009) together with Reem Fadda; 2nd Riwaq Biennale (2007) with Khalil Rabah; the 9th Istanbul Biennial (2005) with Vasif Kortun, Esra Sarigedik Öktem and November Paynter; the Gwangju Biennale (2002) with Hou Hanru and Song Wang Kyung. He is a contributor to Artforum, Frieze, Parkett and Art Monthly.
