KB artist-in-residency 2021

Anne Geene, Risk Hazekamp, and the collective gerlach en koop have been invited to participate in a one-month artist-in-residency at the KB, the National Library of the Netherlands.
They were selected following an open call issued last March by the KB and Stroom Den Haag to artists based in The Hague. The central theme for this first artist-in-residency is digitization. What does digitization mean for the experience of the printed word and the tangible book? What can the national library and visual artists offer one another in a broader sense?

The KB was very impressed by the quality and wide variety of applications. The enthusiasm of artists to work with the KB’s collections and the intellectual potential of the 42 applications did not go unnoticed by the selection committee. It has also sparked further interest in exploring other ways to collaborate with artists in the future. The selection committee consisted of three KB staff members, including the Head of Collection Care, who were supported with both practical and content-related advice by three team members from Stroom Den Haag. The final selection was made by the KB. Depending on COVID-19 regulations, we look forward to welcoming the first artist(s) this summer.

About the three artists:

Anne Geene investigates, collects, inventories, and archives her immediate surroundings in order to analyze and organize them, following an apparent logic. According to Anne, it is only seemingly logical, because the interpretation of the collected data is personal and serves as a playful nod to the human urge to categorize and understand. Her inspiration is primarily drawn from nature. Anne Geene’s proposal stood out because she has both experienced and seen through the complexity of describing and unlocking information. We were particularly drawn to her interest in themes surrounding dataism. In her application, she asked exactly the kinds of questions that we ourselves are currently grappling with.
http://www.annegeene.nl

Risk Hazekamp’s work revolves around the complex and ever-changing relationship between body and image. For a long time, gender was the central element—not only as a subject or theme, but also as a theoretical framework for investigation. Since 2010, Risk has worked project-based on visual thought processes to change systems through a combination of personal activism, analog photography, and intersectional thinking. It was the intersectional thinking in Risk’s work that triggered our interest and curiosity—especially in giving voice to the ‘more-than-human’, in (figuratively) searching for living organisms, thereby moving beyond anthropocentric thought. Risk’s perspective on archiving and categorization, in which unlearning plays a role, also deeply resonated with us.
https://riskhazekamp.nl

The collective gerlach en koop often works in pairs. Existing, recognizable objects are coupled or split, moved, doubled, repeated, or copied—drawing attention to the difference. The smaller the difference, the more interesting it becomes—even, or perhaps especially, when it is imperceptible. They consider the distinction between artist and curator to be artificial. For them, how something is shown, why it is shown, in what context, and the reflection on these aspects have long been part of their artistic practice. Books and libraries have previously played a significant role in their work. Their interest in this residency—particularly the questions it raises about the moment a library transitions to a new system—struck us as both relevant and timely. We were also impressed by the collective’s open attitude: their willingness not to be steered in a specific direction and their receptiveness to materials that seem to be "waiting" for them. We found this refreshing and very appealing.
https://www.gebr-genk.nl