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Cooling towers of state mine Emma in Heerlen, designed by Van Iterson

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Couleur Radicaal

Curator: Lene ter Haar
In collaboration with SCHUNCK* Heerlen

Over the past years, Marres has examined various aspects of the arts, such as the position of the artist, the role of the collector, the function of the museum and the position of the object; based on a long-term research program into different artistic positions as that of the dandy, the dilettant and the avant-garde.

Parallel to the comprehensive presentation of the SCHUNCK* collection in Heerlen, Marres Projects and SCHUNCK* will address the significance of the urban art collection of Heerlen from the notion of the avant-garde. The location is the so-called Office Villa of the Timmerfabriek in Maastricht.

In the exhibition titled Couleur Radicaal, a parallel event of Manifesta 9, Marres Projects and SCHUNCK* explore how the universalist principles of modernism have influenced local developments, using ‘Heerlen’ as case study. Since the 20^th century, the idea of avant-garde played an explicit role in Heerlen, a city with a self-image composed of concepts as innovative, enterprising and pioneering.

In the wake of the industrialization, there has been a specific focus in Heerlen – the center of the mining district - on the ‘new thinking’ and by extension on (inter)national artistic developments. From Van Iterson’s cooling tower, Fritz Peutz’ Glaspaleis and his new City Hall as semi-public cultural temple, to high-profile exhibitions and the oldest public collection of modern art in Limburg: they all testify to the influence of the avant-garde on the urban history of Heerlen. These trails can even be traced to the current idea of a “cultural spring” in Heerlen. And just like back then, the specific desire of the avant-garde to fully coincide with everyday life is both a driving force and a risky business for the arts.

Based on a series of “memories”, the exhibition traces the trail of the avant-garde in Heerlen. In parallel, several works from the collection Dutch paintings are presented, including works by Lucebert and Bram van Velde of the CoBrA group, the Amsterdam Limburgers Ger Lataster, Lei Molin and Peter Defesche, as well as highlights from the collection policy after 1986, including Marlene Dumas, Luc Tuymans and Marc Mulders.

Couleur Radicaal
In het spoor van de Heerlense avant-garde

May 26 – August 12, 2012

Location: Office Villa of the Timmerfabriek
Boschstraat 9
6211 AS Maastricht

Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on holidays.

Admission: adults €5,-, students €3,-, children under 12 & MJK free admission
Also free admission with entrance ticket Marres or SCHUNCK*