Jos van Merendonk Works, exhibitions and biography
Artist Statement Jos van Merendonk (1956) has, in the last three decades continuously labored on a body of works that, given the selfimposed limitations at hand, has a surprising scope and depth. Three simple gestures on a square canvas forms a base structure, this structure is then re-imagined by Van Merendonk painting over the structure, always using the same, rather unforgiving green hue. It might seem contradictory to create freedom by imposing limitations upon oneself. By never asking what a painting could be, but always what his painting could be, he arrived at a void in which the art historical baggage of the medium was no longer a concern. The last three decades have been spent on a relentless research of the options available within an extremely tight set of constraints. The result is a body of work that seems of a somewhat anachronistic detachedness. Van Merendonk has shown at Kienzle Art Foundation Berlin (2014, solo), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2002, 1994, 1991) and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam (1996). His work is part of the collections of: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Museum De Lakenhal Leiden, Museum Het Prinsenhof Delft, Akzo Nobel Art Foundation and the ABN Amro Art Collection. He studied at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Rotterdam (1978-1982) and lives he and works in Amsterdam. Van Merendonk is represented by Galerie Christian Roellin in St. Gallen, Switzerland and Boetzelaer Nispen in Amsterdam.
Works 2015-1-6, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 100x100cm
2015-1-4 2015, acrylic on canvas, 100x100cm
2015-1-3, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 100x100cm
2015-0,6-12, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 60x60cm
2015-0,6-11, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 60x60cm
2015-0,6-8, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 60x60cm
2015-0,6-7, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 60x60cm
2014-2-1, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 200x200cm
2014-1-2, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 100x100cm
2013-2-1, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 200x200cm
Exhibition overviews Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Installtion overview Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Pure Matter, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, Installtion overview
Curriculum Vitae Jos van Merendonk 1956 Education 1978-1982 Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, Rotterdam, NL Solo Exhibitions 2014 PURE MATTER, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin, DE 2014 Stupf und Feurig (mit/with Marien Schouten), Galerie Christian Roellin, St Gallen, CH 2010 ECHTZEIT, Galerie Christian Roellin, St. Gallen, CH 2008 UPLOADING THE FIELD, Galerie Christian Roellin, Zürich, CH FEEDBACKLUSSEN, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL 2007 IMMER DISTANZ, kulturwerkt66, Freiburg, DE OHNE MÜHE, Galerie Christian Roellin, St. Gallen, CH 2006 HAMERSTUKKEN, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL Galerie Barbara Oberem, Bonn, DE 2004 A FALSE PICTURE, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL 2002 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL BFA Gallery,Liempde, NL 2001 Galerie Appel, Frankfurt Am Main, DE 1999 Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL 1998 Hales Gallery, London Richard Salmon Gallery, London, UK 1997 Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL 1994 Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL 1993 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1992 Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL 1991 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1989 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1988 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1987 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL
1986 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1985 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 1983 Museum Waterland, Purmerend, NL Group Exhibitions 2014 Abstracts-three work of the eighties, Galerie De Zaal, Delft, NL 2013 Abstracts-one, two, Galerie De Zaal, Delft, NL 2012 Moderne Klassik (Robert Lebeck/Jos van Merendonk/Marien Schouten), Galerie Christian Roellin offspace, Bever. CH Voorbij le cadavre exquis, Quartair, Den Haag, NL 2011 Zomertentoonstelling Galerie Paul Andriesse, Amsterdam, NL 2008 There is Desire Left (Knock, Knock), Kunstmuseum Bern/Wiesbaden, DE QUIET SURPRISE, Galerie Van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 2007 November ist vor Dezember, Galerie Barbara Oberem, Bonn, DE COLLECTION SELECTION, Galerie Christian Roellin, St. Gallen, CH CONTOUR, Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft, NL 2005 WHAT WOULD A WORLD WITHOUT PAPER BE LIKE?, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL 2004 PATRONEN. ERIC JAN VAN DE GEER, JOS VAN MERENDONK, TENT, Rotterdam, NL GESTURE SUGGESTION, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL 2003 SUITE VOICES #5, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL 2002 LIFE IN A GLASS HOUSE, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL 21 TEGEN DE MUUR, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL 2001 ABSTRACT, Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL 2000 KAMINSKY, MECHLER, VAN MERENDONK, Galerie Appel und Troschke, Frankfurt am Main, DE NIEUWE LEDEN, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL 1998 ONBEGRENSD EN INGEKADERD, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, NL 1997 L HOMME SUCRE, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, NL 1996 UNFOLD, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL 1995 DE RODE SJAAL, Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL LEO DE GOEDE, PETER KOOLE, JOS VAN MERENDONK, Hales Gallery, London, UK 1994 DE PORT A PORT, Ateliers d Artistes de la Ville de Marseille, Marseille, FR EEN PLUS IS EEN ELF, Reuten Galerie, Amsterdam, NL COUPLET, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
1993 HUTTENLOCHER, LASKER, VAN MERENDONK, Witte de With, Rotterdam, NL 1991 ABOUT PAINTING, Artis, Den Bosch, NL DR. BREWSTER&CO, Rotterdam, NL OP WARE GROOTTE: TEKENINGEN, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL 1989 RIJKSAANKOPEN 1988, Rijksdienst Beeldende Kunst, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, NL 1988 KONINKLIJKE SUBSIDIE 1980 1987 Paleis op de Dam, Amsterdam, NL SIGNATUUR, Haags Centrum voor Aktuele Kunst, Den Haag, NL 1986 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL RIJKSAANKOPEN, Rijksdienst Beeldende Kunst, Den Haag, NL 1985 RIJKSAANKOPEN, Rijksdienst Beeldende Kunst, Den Haag, NL QUINTET, Galerie Westersingel 8, Rotterdam, NL 1984 Galerie van Kranendonk, Den Haag, NL 7 TEKENAARS, Galerie Westersingel 8, Rotterdam, NL Publications 2012 AANWINST, Kunstcollectie Hogeschool Rotterdam, Kunsthal, Rotterdam, NL 2008 THERE IS DESIRE LEFT (KNOCK, KNOCK), Cat. Kunstmuseum, Bern, CH 2007 PRESENT Kunst bij rijksgebouwen 2004-2006, episode publishers, Rotterdam, NL 2007 6 SUR PLACE, Fortis Stichting Kunst en Historisch Bezit, Utrecht, NL CONTOUR / CONTINUïTEIT, Cat. Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft, NL, Waanders Uitgevers, Zwolle, NL 2006 AANWINSTEN / ACQUISITIONS 1993 2003 STEDELIJK MUSEUM AMSTERDAM, Cat.nr. 879, Veenman Publishers, Rotterdam, NL HORIZONTE DES SAMMELNS, Wolfsberg Arts Forum 2006/2007/ 2003 JOS VAN MERENDONK, A FALSE PICTURE, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam, NL PROOF OF PRINCIPLE, Akzo Nobel Art Foundation, Arnhem, NL 2002 LIFE IN A GLASS HOUSE, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, cat.nr. 873 2000 90 OVER 80, Tien jaar Beeldende Kunst in Rotterdam, Stichting Kunstpublicaties Rotterdam, NL 1998 ONBEGRENSD EN INGEKADERD, Cat. University of Groningen 1997 L HOMME SUCRÉ, Cat. Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, NL