How to display a ceramic collection?
The museum has selected 55 pieces of representative and important European ceramists from the Collectie van Haaren. Collection van Haaren. (J.W.M. van Haaren was the collector and founder of the SMs ceramic collection.)
The collection was build between 1956 – 1966 and includes 300 pieces from 84 ceramists. It gives a representative view of ceramic around 1960. It contains work from the Dutch ceramists Meindert Zaalberg, Chris Lannooij, Hendricus Andree who were experimenting with special glazing.
year: 2011
location: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
dimension: 1200 x 150x 430 cm
material: recycled construction plywood, square timber
venue: SM’s Stedelijk Museum of Art & Design
exhibition: Frank Havermans 1:1
Januari 29 – may 5
curator: Réne Pingen, director
manufacture: Studio Frank Havermans
photography: © Peter Cox, Eindhoven
PUBLICATIONS
The Exhibition Cabinet is hanging on the wall by 4 big hooks. For the collection Frank Havermans has composed a place for each piece. By hanging the Exhibition Cabinet on the free wall, not using the floor, gravity becomes more sensible. The whole collection hangs above the floor. The biggest disaster for ceramics is that it may fall and break by gravity. In this design the pieces float gracious into the space. Not feeling and attracting the gravity at all.
The Cabinet is made from used plywood that Frank has cleaned. The 4 big hooks are made from darker used plywood. The horizontal beam is made from light coloured used plywood and painted light grey. The upcoming fibers after the painting has not been sanded. The skin of the raw horizontal beam gives a beautiful contrast with the different kind of glaze on the ceramics. The clear, diverted in hight but neutral form of the horizontal beam gives right to each ceramic piece. Together it forms a wonderful whole. The wood and ceramics, both nature products, go very well together. Both have a history in their skins.
The Argentinian-Italian artist Lucio Fontana is part of the collection with cut-pieces. One of the pieces is part of this selection. The English ceramists Hans Coper, Lucie Rie and Bernard Leach were leader independent working ceramists in the 50-s. Coper starts his career in the studio of Lucie Rie. Inspired by sculptors as Geacometti and Brancusi, Coper develops a abstract, monumental style. Copers vases are characterized by large plastic forms, while the work of Rie is refined, gracious and sophisticated. Bernard Leach is fascinated by the simplicity and beauty of Eastern ceramics. His aim was to make beautiful and affordable use goods where aesthetics and functionality are both as important.
