FEATURES ARCHIVE

Art is a journey for most people - where did yours begin?
In my father's studio, when I was 5 or 6 years old. He is a Dutch sculptor, and I used to be in his studio all the time, trying to copy him, like any son would. At one point his studio contained more of my works then his, so he allowed me to choose two works which he then cast in bronze for me. I grew up with studios, gallery openings, unveilings and going to foundries all the time. You might say I lived and breathed art from an early age.

What attracted you to Post-War and Contemporary art in particular?
Well, this took me a while. I originally studied Old Masters at the University of Amsterdam and started working at Christie's while still a student some 15 years ago. It was here that I actually had my first real serious contact with 20th century art. The first time I saw Jan Schoonhoven's white reliefs I just couldn't understand them at all, but I knew I liked them. This inspired me to begin reading about it, and then when I looked at the works again they just blew me away. They spoke about him; his way of living, his distortions. They immediately opened themselves up to me in the same way that an Old Master painting would. In that sense art, any art, needs time and work to get the whole picture.

We're standing in front of an impressive sculpture by Jan Fabre that's currently on display on the roof of Christie's. Can you tell us about it?
This is 'Man Measuring the clouds', one of Fabre's most famous works. He is a Belgian writer, choreographer, artist, rioter - very much at the centre of attention. Also this work is auto-biographical; it's about Fabre as an artist, about him because it's his portrait, but also about his brother who passed away because Fabre tries to merge his image with his brother's body features. In that sense it's acutely personal. On the other hand it's about the artist reaching for the impossible, measuring the clouds. Exactly what any artist should do.

You are about to launch the first ever auction category in the Netherlands dedicated to Post-War and Contemporary art. Why is it the right time?
Well, it just was time. Post-war and Contemporary art needed its own platform here and I saw this coming over the last few years. It's a fully grown-up market now, with its own artists, collectors, galleries and dealers. There are successful fairs like Frieze in Holland, Art Rotterdam and Art Amsterdam. It's a positive and innovative impulse we've created within the auction market. You need to be innovative. We are the first to do it in Holland and the reactions here are all extremely positive.

If you could have sat by an artist's side while they created one of their works, who and what would it have been?
Being an art historian by training it would, for me, be an Old Master - Vermeer, without a doubt. So much information about the artist is lost, and so little is known about how he painted. We still think he must have used highly technical aids to paint the things he did. Otherwise, it doesn't seem possible. But in the end, this was a genius. I don't think any of us would mind sitting next to a genius.

If you were to start your own collection of works by living artists who would you include?
I like the odd ones out, the exceptions to the rule, mainly artists' artists. They just do what they want to do and have been doing it their whole lives long. There is a show in Maastricht now called 'Exile on main street' (Bonnefanten museum) with these kind of artists: Artschwager, Copley, Gianakos, Peter Saul, John Tweddle , H.C. Westermann and others. Strange intriguing works, the artists are crazy. I like that. Maniacs you know!

What are the most satisfying aspects of your role as a Specialist?
You are in the middle of the world. It's fantastic to meet so many different people; to see and play a part in the life of so many different works of art. To be able to do this as a job is truly fabulous. Some works are very much for public spaces, others more private.

If you could choose a work from the sale for yourself what would it be and where would you display it?
It's a cute and crazy little work of a hotdog, by Jan Cremer. I have just the right corner at home to hang it. I always look at art as either a 'wanna-have', or not. This is definitely a wanna-have.