The 3d List week 27 by Daniel R. Gould. Amsterdam art, galleries and museums

...And life goes on. Perhaps that should be the mantra for an artist at this point in time. You make it and you try to sell it. Making it is EASY! Well, almost. Trying to sell it is like trying to extract a painful tooth from an elephant. 3D did the rounds last weekend and looked for red dots to dazzle his eyes. There was no mass display of red dots that did it, but some of the art had that effect. The good news is that there were a couple of very good young artist showing that were offering their work at reasonable prices. They still ride bikes and don't have a BMW gas tank to feed that consumes the costly liquid like a dry water hole in the desert. So trash the Benz, sink the yacht, fly economy class and you can furnish your pad with oils that don't deplete the ozone, bronzes that never rust and drawings that create an illusion to the reality you envision to fit your mood...whatever that means....

INDEX:

Bits & Pieces:

What You Missed Last Week:

What Is Happening This Week:

Bits & Pieces:

Samuel Beckett, the Irish/French writer's work, whether it is a short story or play, is always enigmatic and not only in the idea behind his jottings, but how he brings the words together. Basically, he makes you think. Here is an excellent example: "Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness," from "The Letters of Samuel Beckett," book review in the Int Herald Tribune (19th March). www.iht.com...and 3Ds' shirt front screams at you like a Jackson Pollack painting.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

NIMk (née: Monte Video) will be celebrating their 30th anniversary from 5th to the 10th of May. There will be a full program and the 3D List will provide it at the appropriate time. However, you should be aware that there is also a participation project: "We ask you to show us how you fell in love with media art. You can show this through text, sound and image...[and] it will be exposed on Facebook and YouTube." info@nimk.nl ("How I Fell In Love With Media Art You Tube.")

DasArts has isued a CALL FOR APPLICATIONS and you have until the 17th April to reply and apply for admission to their "unique training laboratory for professionals in the field of the performing arts in conformance with the international recognized Master qualification." The new program begins 1st September until 28th February, 2010. www.dasarts.nl/application.

Das Arts has also announced the appointment of Barbara van Lindt as their new managing director.

Stedelijk Museum has received a significant contribution, IMC (International Marketmakers Combination) of Amsterdam. The company is a global and a leading derivatives trading house....and apparently still has money after the crash of the derivative market. That's nice. Its offices are in Australia, the UK, France, Germany, USofA, Switzerland and Hong Kong. The gift was sizable enough---the Stedelijk won't put the amount in figures---that the main exhibition room, in the existing building, will be named: EREZAAL Gallery.

Other major contributors include: ABN AMRO Bank, Teijin (Japan) and the Vanden Ende Foundation. The museum has also said that the tentative date for the opening of the renovated building and the new wing is March/April, 2010. Anyone giving odds on that?

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BIODANZA???? What the hell is that? A new virus? Well, it is dancing, exercise, meditation, group therapy and just getting together and having fun...did I leave out anything? Anyway, check out: www.alexanderlagaaij.nl for more info as to time and place. Lagaaij, the guru, Fred Astair and bon vivant is an artist, physicist and "cuts-the-rug" when he's not off to see the world.

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The "3D List: Week #26" reviwewed the exhibition of Mijn Schatje at KOCHXBOS (1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 3). They have announced a limited edition Giclée print printed on rag archical paper, signed and numbered (1/70) @ 90 euro. Hey, that's cheap. The poster, for the show, is 7,50 euro. Order at: gallery@kochxbos.nl or see at: www.kochxbos.nl

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"What's in the Box?" is the title of a short mystery film (nine minutes) by a Dutch student named Tim Smit. It has had over 450,000 hits on YouTube. The Hollywood giant production and distribution company 20th Century Fox has focused its spotlights on him along with two other movie companies. www.youtube.com

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3D has had e-mails about last week's item regarding the duet "staged" with Celine Dion and Elvis. For the most part they read: "Hey, 3D, have you never heard about digital animation the simulates 'real' real persons?" Sure I have. But what you saw on YouTube was only half the story. The other half was the fact that the performance was "staged" on a stage and "live." Hmmm, lot's of inverted commas. So what does it all mean?

Elvis, was a holograph projected on stage and the audience was suspended into disbelieve, seeing, but not believiing, but believing never-the-less. Dion had reheasrsed, for a couple of weeks, with an Elvis impersonater, the song "If I can Dream," before actually doing the real thing with the "real" thing. The holograph took "months and months" and cost between "$50,000 and $100,000." And, again, thanks to Karl L. (USofA) for this "real life" experience.

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TEFAF ended last Sunday in faraway Maastricht. Actually, to the jet setters, it wasn't all that far away. They streaked into the city in their private jets. Souren Melikian, who reviews the art auction market for the Int Herald Tribune---and has been doing so forever---said, "Business is booming against all odds in the art market when the rest of the world economy shrinks...As the 22nd European Fine Art Fair...opened its doors to private viewing on Match 12th, the rush of hundreds of well-heeled prospectve buyers to get in first was as feverish as ever. Transactions were concluded there and then at prices that would not have been higher the previous year." (www.iht.com, 21/22 March).

Remember. the rich get richer...and this is one way they do it. It is now a buyers market and this axiom could not be more true than how it applies to the present "art market." Prices are no longer escalating but stabilizing and 3D sees signs that galleries are maybe pricing pieces a little more realistically. And the market's reaction? One gallery holder told 3D last weekend that she had a client who purchased an expensive work by saying, "I lost money on the stock market---and the banks are no longer save---so, I'll spend my money on art. At least I'll have something to look at and enjoy!" Right on...this is a wise person.

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...And speaking of money...3D received TWO donations this last week. Ironically, one came from an Englishman living in London. Hmmm, what to make of that...Please address that thickly packed envelope to: PB 15541, 1001NA Amsterdam...and hurry, time is running out.

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Mies van der Rohe, a German pre-World War II Bauhaus architect, made this observation: "God is in the details!"

Some years ago, I was talking to a former high school friend I had not seen in about 20 years. We had attended a Catholic school and were educated by nuns. He asked, "Do you still believe all that stuff they taught us?" I admitted that I didn't. He then said, "So your an atheist like me." "No," I replied, "I'm an agnostic." "What's that?" he questioned. I then explained to him if he did not know what an agnostic was it meant that he had not read enough on the subject of a diety that would allow him to call himself an atheist.

I told him I had entered a Jesuit University as a true believer and at graduation I realized I had become an agnostic...and, the Jesuits seemed pleased by that. The roll of an agostic is to question both sides. This is what I like about Van der Rohe's statement. My feeling at this stage, of my life, is that "God" is not an entity as described to us by religions, but probably closer to being a scientific equation. Perhaps, when someone formulates Einstein's "unification theory" (one he never structured into a simple equation) it will give us the answer. And shortly CERN, the Swiss cyclotron, will be up and running and maybe the answer will come in our life time...But, I disgress...

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...And speaking of the spiritual, 3D stumbled across this headline at www.nytimes.com: Was Jesus Devine? I have not read it all, but what I did read asked the right questions and generally the answers were either accurate and/or well documented. Nor did I read it to the end to see if there is an answer to the question. www.y-jesus.com

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...And speaking of the "economic crisis"..was I? .3D came across an essay on the Op-Ed page of the Int Herald Tribune authored by an unlikely pair of politicians: Angela Merkel and Holland's own Jan Peter Balkenende. 3D loves surprises and especially when they come from an unexpected directions. Angela and Jan Peter may be the contemporary Ronnie and Maggie (respectively, Reagan and Thatcher). Actually, the latter two were a likely pair and did in fact "adore" each other. Angela and Jan Peter, off-hand, do not come to mind as a "union made in heaven."

Anyway, 3D has not been pleased with the swing away from the social-welfare system that has been developing over the last 15 to 20 years in the Netherlands. If it isn't broken, don't try and fix it! Sure, such a social infrastructure always cost more money than anyone wants to spend, but it pays enormous dividends to ALL levels of society. Balkenende's tinkering with the basic fundamentals and concepts of the social egalitarian system has had a negative effect on those who need it the most. So it came as a shock to read this essay and finding myself agreeing with what he and Angela had to say. What they proposed was an idea called: "Global Charter For Sustainable Economic Activity aimed at developing a single framework relying on the unfolding of market forces but striving to ensure a stable, socially balanced and sustainable development of the global economy." Of course, how they intend to do that, 3D may not find acceptable, but there is always the chance that he might. Stay tune....

Memorandium." It appears that they may have been provided by the US government under the Freedom of Information Act since names, dates and locations have been inked out.

A video shows a young Jean Seberg---and she never got much older; she was a suicide---tracing a thumb around her mouth and through the magic of, probably, PaintShop we see a broad line being formed and at the end it looks like a clown's mouth. There is also a series of 24 b/w photos printed on paper (some sheets have two prints). They are all stills from the film "Breathless." They are sold as one: 24 sheets, 84x61 cms.,, digital print signed and numbered Ed. 8 @ 3,500 euro; "Curtain Call," loop, Ed. 3, 27 sec @ 5,000 euro; "Black Face," silkscreened on mirror, Ed. 12, 30 pieces @ 10,000 euro. Until 18th April. www.lumentravo.nl

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...And through two more doors and we come to AKINCI with the work of a Dutch artist, Gerben Mulder, who lives in NYC and Rio De Janerio. My first impression, when entering the gallery, was Kees Van Dongen---the Dutch Fauve artists who lived most of his life in Paris---was alive and well. Mulder's subjects are all female like with Van Dongen; and the ladies eyes are almost what one would describe as bug-like they are so big and dominating; and finally, the colors. The colors are bright pastels like the Fauve group favored. The results are visualally spectacular....and so are the prices. (110x110 cms., oil on canvas @ 10,000 euro; 177x175 cms., oil on canvas @ 15,000 euro.) Until 18th april. www.akinci.nl

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Sunday:

Galerie Josine Bokhoven (Prinsengracht 154) is hanging the work of Pierre Bergian. The artist has two primary subjects: mountains and room interiors. The linear aspects of the interiors are emphasized and in a way that makes the representational almost an abstraction of the real. This is also true of the paintings of mountains, hills and cliffs. You can see each piece in two different ways: representational or as an abstraction. (10x10 @ 750 euro; 30x28 cms.m, @ 1,200 euro; 60x80 cms., @ 2,300 euro.) Until 5th May. www.galeriejosinebokhoven.nl

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Don Ken is at Galerie Utrecht (Prinsengracht 572) with fun work! He obviously has a love affair with the animated world of Hollywood and even features 3Ds' favorite comedians: Laurel and Hardy. They are presented in several shades of rose and pink. Typography is incoorporated into it an on a couple of levels. First, we see in big and bold lettering: "Friendship & Love: Masterpieces of Nature." Also, appearing in pencil: "I'll be your friend for life," "A man's best friend" with a dog drawn above it, "Smile" and "Sun." And in the lower right hand corner there is a tic-tac-toe game in progress.

"Bugs Bunny," another 3D favorite, is represented and in a piece next to Walt Disney's "Dumbo." The latter reads, "Dreams Do Bcome [sic] Reality." Overall, the style is cartoonish, colorful, kitschy, conceptual and thought provoking. Did I leave out anything? Oh, yeah. I liked it! (80x60 cms., oil on linen @ 2,300 euro; 120x180 cms., @ 6,800 euro.)

Also showing is the Chinese artist Zhang Jian June...and now for something completely different, almost. The Chinese and their artist favor the color red. Me too. And these figurative Botero-like people are all in RED. The results are very big cartoons and an imagery that should make you chuckle or at the very least smile everytime you look at them. The perfect paintings to see you through the recession. (They were too big to measure, say about 200x200 cms., oil on linen @ 14,300 euro.) Until 26th April. www.galerieutrecht.nl

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Two artists were showing at "galerie wies willemsen" (Ruysdaelkade 25). Both artist represent themselves with traditional style nude figurative paintings. They each bring something special to their work in the posing and compositions. The work is oil, watercolor and pen and ink. Oscar de Wit: 30x40 cms., oil on panel @ 1,090; 89x70 cms., oil on linen @ 2,700. Erik Bauknecht: 53x60 cms., acrylic @ 1,800 euro; 69x85 cms., oil on hardboard @ 2,500 euro.) Until 14th June. www.wieswillemsen.nl

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WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Reminder: Again, the (?) indicates that the info may be incorrect and nothing is really happening at this address; and the "*" tells you to check the times. Go to their web-site or phone ahead. This has been a 3D disclaimer, it is NOT a test, it is real and DON'T advance to GO...or something like that...Hey, here is a NEW disclaimer. 3D has now added to a few listing that the invite says you have to bring it for entry and/or RSVP. Well, sometimes this is true and sometimes it isn't even when it is said. Therefore, from this time forward, 3D will indicate what is said and YOU decide what to do.

WEDNESDAY: 25th March, 2009

20:00 Mediamatic BANK (Vijzelstraat 68). "Passed Away Salon: On how to deal with death in a positive way." Five people will lecture on various topics concerning the Big Swan Dive; from a pathologist to the reading of poems done by poets for those being buried without friends or relatives. In DUTCH. FREE. www.mediamatic.net/passedway

THURSDAY: 26th March

17-19:30 Amsterdam Auctioneers GLERUM (Lekstraat 63). "Het Europese Interieur." RSVP before 23 March (ooops): info@glerum.nl Viewing also from Friday to Sunday, 10-17:00. Auction: 30th March @ 14:00. www.glerum.nl

17:30 Projectruimte Retort (Aalsmeerweg 103). Sebastiaan Majoor, photos and installation. www.retortproject.nl

18*-22:00 De Veemvloer (Van Diemenstraat 410). (From two different sources there are two different times; the other time listed is "19:00;" nor was the Veemvloer web-site up to date). Jonas Stall and Harmen de Hoop, "Preaching Sloganism." www.veemvloer.nl

FRIDAY: 27th March

(?)17-19:00 SM Bureau Amsterdam (Rozensgracht 59). "The Demon of Comparisons," a project of Electric Palm Tree," nine artists with a reading/performance 'Finder Keepers,' by Jeuno Kim. www.smba.nl

17:00 Chelleire (Raamgracht 58). Lynda White (UK) "Playing Fields," paintings; a conceptual abstract artist. 25% of ALL sales donated to Sightsavers International. www.lynda-white.com

SATURDAY: 28th March

15:00 Ton de Boer (Czaar Peterstraat 139). "BookBox: Boekjes in luciferdoosjes." www.tondeboer.nl

16:00 Loods 6 (KNSM-laan _____). "Synergetic Art," portraits by Peter Janssen. www.portrait-of.nl

16:00 Galerie Witteveen (Keizersgracht 538). "Time Boom The Devil Dead: History-Mystery-Prophesy." Presented by Tim Benjamin, Hugo Kaagman and Rob Scholte. www.galeriewitteveen.nl

(?)16:00* AdK Actuele Kunst (Prinsengracht 534). Dick Spyer and Rijnder Kamerbeek, "Antagonisme." www.adkactuelekunst.nl

16-18:00 De Witte Voet (Kerkstraat 135). A duo exhibition by a couple, Ausloos (anne) and Ausloos (Paul), ceramic and photography. www.galeriedewittevoet.nl

16:00: S. Biederberg Gallery (1e Egelantiesrsdwarsstraat 1). Marcel van Campen, sculpture, objects and drawings.

16-19:00 Serieuze Zaken Studioos (Lauriergracht 96). "Destroy Your Monsters," Curated by Marian Cramer features eight listed artist and "many more Monsters." N.B. "says" to bring invite. www.serieuzezaken.info

17:00 "annahakkens" (Lijnbaansgracht 318). Caroline Coolen, "Spitsbergen," installation; and Diego Franssens. www.annahakkens.com

17:00 Galerie Vriend van Bavink (Geldersekade 58). "Amsterdam Rules," paintings by Chiel van Zelst. www.amsterdampainter.com; www.vriendvanbavink@bonder.nl

17-19:00 Witzenhausen Gallery Amsterdam (Hazenstraat 60). Patrick McGrath (Puerto Rico) "sins and syncretisms."" Hey, a good pre-Good Friday show. All about the "Seven Deadly Sins," a revisted and updated version. "A different understanding of how we may define 'sin' today." Here is a hint on what to expect as determined from the titles: "Cyber-lust, Consumerist Gluttony, Media Sloth, Military Wealth, Celebrity Envy, Corporate Greed and Imperial Arrogance." By invitation only. RSVP: info@witzenahusengallery.nl www.witzenhausengallery.nl

17-19:00 Galerie Duivelseiland (Pieter Baststraat 6). Maartje van der Noort. www.duivelseiland.nl

SUNDAY: 29th March

14:00 Museum Jan van der Togt (Dorpsstraat 50, Amstelveen). Milou Hermus, "Les Belles Hollandaises," paintings and drawings: portraits. www.jvdtogt.nl

16:00 Museum Jan van der Togt (see above). Frans Molenaar, "Haute Verrerie," glass. www.jvdtogt.nl

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There you have it! 3D predicts a sunny weekend...and the sun always shines when you look at good art. Good art? So, what is bad art? Bad art always comes WITHOUT soul. And when do you know when art has soul? When you like it! If it stirs an emotion, makes you think or turns your head the artist's soul is communicating to you. Hmmm, there is a lot of spirituality in this week's 3D List...what does that mean? It means Spring is busting out all over...the rebirth...

And there goes 3D chasing a few tree buds with his heart goin' piddy-pat, piddy-pat, piddy-pat...so look out ladies...

...More on the above. 3D first expressed the following thought to an investment banker during the early 80s: "Within 50 years there will be a world currency." When he had stopped laughing, I said "If you think that was funny you will find this hilarious, actually I think it could come in the next 25 years." I went on to explain that what would bring it on was the "crash of the dollar."

This week the Chinese has called on the G20 to include discussion of a "reserve currency" on their upcoming meeting agenda. The Japanese immediately seconded the motion. Of course, the Chinese are concerned about the dissolutuion of the value of all that "green stuff" with "Made in America" stamped on it that it holds in its banks. The Japanese remember when they held a lot of dollars that they paid 300 yen for (1970) and that today they get only 100 yen in return.

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Last week's "3D List" mentioned a Q&A event at DROOG (Staalstraat 6). It was all about "Gluejeans." When the invite arrived, my first thought was: Misprint, should be "Bluejeans." NO misprint. Gluejeans are made without stitching; the seams are glued together. Neat trick, you say, why hasn't anyone done it before? Well, it ain't easy, is why. The team of Natasla Martens and Gerrit Uittenbogaard tested different adhesive formulas for two years before finding one that stuck.

They have made a limited edition to introduce them to the general public. They are available in black or red glue; in sizes 30, 32 and 34; the edition is 300 and the price is 420 euro. You may think that is expensive, and it is, but also a price you associate with "designer jeans." They can be washed, separately; in 40 degrees water and clothes-lined dried only; and do NOT iron; nor do NOT wear if you are sensitive to solovents.

In the case of Gluejeans the price can be justified. It is all handwork and takes ten days to make 10 pairs. The couple are now gearing up for a faster production rate and schedule. Should you wait until they are cheaper? Well, an original pair of Levi's, manufactured in the 19th century, went at auction for something over $100,000 a few years back. And that's a lot of green for something blue. No web-site listed. Try www.droog.nl

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More on Blubbery Belly...3D reported on the fight he instigated at a gallery about two weeks or so ago. I talked with the assistant gallery holder, last weekend, who said she went up to him afterwards and told him never to return. BB looked her in the eye and said: "If you ban me from the gallery, I'll come back with a motor cycle gang and we'll destroy the place!" Stay tuned...maybe we can get it on video and YouTube; and knowing Blubber Belly, he'll probably broadcast it on his AT5 program. Again, 3D is posting this information as documentation to a threat that has been made an it is meant to deter this sociopath from carrying it out.

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WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK:

Thursday:

It is the 40th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's marriage. About ten years later, they separated and then got back together again with Lennon saying, "The separation didn't work!"

But before all that they used the media attention on them to focus the world on the war in Vietnam. "Make love, not war," was a very popular slogan at the time. The two spent their honeymoon, in bed, in Amsterdam and Montreal "For Peace." 3D was at a scientific conference, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, when they camped out there on the second leg of the event. One afternoon, going up the elevator, at the hotel, I noticed a mod dressed man of about 35 years old. I had previously noted a covey of teenage girls that seemed to be permanently camped in the hotel's lobby. Something was going on. My own schedule had my "dance card" filled from the early morning to the wee hours. There was not even time for the newspaper. I asked the mod dresser what was going on. He replied, "John Lennon and Yoko Ono are in bed for peace!" He went on to say that he was going to their suite and would I like to join him. I turned to my boss and said "Can we?" He looked at his watch and said "We are already 10 minutes late for the meeting!" Damn. Missed chances.

The celebration, that opened at the Hilton, is billed as an "art exhibition," and titled "From Holland With Peace." And, indeed, there is plenty of art. The quality ranges from so-so photography to well done and to POP School type of work and everything in between. For the most part, the photos were snapped not as "art" but as journalistic reportage so their value is in the historical aspect.

Five photographers show their impressions of that week way back in 1969. Ironically, Nico Koster's prints are the most reasonable in price: Small photos, ed 25 @ 750 euro; Cor Jaring, Ed. 9 @ 950 euro; up to Claude Vanheye's 100x100 cms., printed on canvas, ed. 5 @ 6,250 euro. In another section of the lobby is POP School type and conceptual work; as well as, contemporary photos by eight different people. A diptych is two photos of Stonehedge with this caption stretched across the two canvases: "God it a concept...By which we can measure our pain."

In a room, off the lobby, is another exhibition featuring the work of John Lennon and it is all original, almost. His widow, Yoko, has created a marketing company around the memory of John. For those who know little about this extraordinary person, he was at art school when he and Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together as a cohesive rock and roll band. John would meet Joko when she did a performance at an art gallery.

The work, on display, is all prints. Some of the editions are 1,000. There is a blind stamp with the name "John Lennon" as well as a stamp with Japanese calligraphy (it reads: "Like a cloud, beautiful sound") and a signature, in pencil, in the lower left hand corner, is by Yoko Ono.

Lennon did simple line drawings. He was a true minimalist; and his work is artistically very interesting. We also see cartoons. One has a person saying, "I've been getting into jazz," and another person replying, "I've been trying to avoid it all my life." The prices range from a low of 315 euro to 7,830 euro. There are a few pieces of original memorabilia on display including letters, "Beatles Fanzclub" ID, etc.

The backgound music, for the reception, was either John Lennon's solo work or the Beatles; and as 3D was leaving the lobby, of the Hilton, he saw a man who was dancing with his wife....well, maybe it wasn't his wife. Doesn't matter. It was the moment that counted. The exhibition is only for a two weeks or so. More info: www.fromhollandwithpeace.com N.B. On Sunday, 29th March is a "Tribute to John's music," also at the Hilton. The program is between 14:00 and ends at 19:00 and cost 15 euro. For more info call: (020) 710.60.28

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Friday:

Torsten Ruehle (Germany) has an unusual style. In the work that is now hanging at 2x2projects (Veemkade 350) we see representational scenes---mostly room interiors: livingroom, bedroom, etc---with subdued colors. But, then, he outlines, sort of, specific parts with a selection that seems to be in an haphazard fashion. In a sense---and it is almost subliminal---this creates a linear form that doesn't always coincide with the subject matter represented. (20x25 cms., oil, @ 400 euro; 50x60 cms., oil and Pigment pen @ 2,700 euro; 172x222 cms., oil and pigment pen on wood @ 9,800 euro.) Until 25th April. www.2x2p.com Sorry, this opening was not on last week 3D List. It arrived 12 minutes after I had sent the list on Thursday.

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Saturday:

Believe it or not, 3D is sometimes criticized for going to openings. "Why do you do it?" They ask. "I like to go during the week when there are no crowds," they continue. Fair enough, but 3D sometimes wants to talk to the artist who is generally present at the reception. Over the years, 3D has learned much from artists. Why should he stop his education?

Last weekend was no exception. I attending a new gallery, Van Zijll Langhout Exposities (Brouwersgracht 161) showing Raymond Cuijpers. It turned out to be more than "artistically" interestng...but, first his art. The style, well, let's describe it thusly, figurative contemporary impressionism with---from time-to-time and for good measure---expressionism thrown into the mix. The subject matter is almost exclusively female. He also does mixed media/collage work on wood or canvas. Nearly all this work feautures a pin-up like photograph of a woman. Nice work. (40x40 on wood @ 300 euro; 60x40 oil on canvas @ 900 euro; 100x120 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,250 euro; 200x170 cms., oil on canvas @ 2,500 euro).

But his "artistic" expression does not end there. He is also a writer with two books to his credit. Actually, he started out with the ambition and the innate talent to be a footballer. He rose in the Ajax Youth league to the very top, but at 19, suffered an ankle injury that ended the potential for a professional sport career. He went to art school in Maastricht and did post-grad work at Amsterdam's Rijksakademie.

The first novel, "Kunstenaar Op Kaalheide" (2004) is an autobiographical novel and available in Dutch. The first book: "Wat Denk Je Als Je Duits Spreekt" or to put it another way, and in English, "Do You Like To Talk Turkey," (2000) is available in both Dutch and English; and in the same binding. 3D has had the opportunity to read some of it. There is an unusual and interesting concept behind its format. It is a "diary" that he recorded questions into over a year. No story. Certainly no plot, unless you consider life to be a plot---for or against you. If 3D were writing the blurb for the cover he would say: "This is James Joyce's Ulysees---a 24 hour story---in an hip-hop version over 365 days." It is a perfect "toilet" or "nightstand" book. That is, you read it slowly and in parts. Here are examples:

"why is art so boring

why don't you get up earlier

do you need a crystal ball

Nike or Adidas

do you wear fancy clothes

do you think the human race is relevant

do you want to have kids" (Note: his American wife was present with a baby in arms)

...More, "is it important to sell paintings

to own an automobile

why don't you expect to ever drive a Mercedes Benz

do you think you can live off your paintings"

xxxxxxx

we are very sorry that we could not place the rest of the 3D article here due to techniacl reasones.