Formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art

Formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art is a center for contemporary art in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, founded in 1990.[3] Since 2017 its director is Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy.

Formerly known as Witte de With
Formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam
Established1990[1]
Location50 Witte de Withstraat, 3012 BR
Rotterdam the Netherlands
TypeContemporary Art
DirectorSofía Hernández Chong Cuy[2]
CuratorSamuel Saelemakers
Natasha Hoare
Websitewww.fkawdw.nl

The center explores developments in contemporary art worldwide and presents them through curated exhibitions, symposia, live events, educational programs, and a publishing arm.[4] It is housed in a former school building on the Witte de Withstraat, a street in Rotterdam.[5]

History

The center was established on January 27, 1990 as a center for contemporary art with the mission of introducing international contemporary art and theory in the context of the City of Rotterdam as well as the Netherlands. The institution initially sought to present an alternative to both the classic museum for modern art and existing artists’ initiatives.

The center celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015.[6] Chris Dercon is the first director of the center from 1990 to 1996,[7] and Bartomeu Marí is the second director from 1996 to 2001. Catherine David had served as the third director of the center between 2002 and 2004. Nicolaus Schafhausen was appointed director in 2006. Defne Ayas was appointed director in 2012, and was succeeded by Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy in 2017.

On June 27 2020 the center announced that it had retired its old name with immediate effect and will be known going forward as "Formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art".[8] A new name will come into effect on January 21 2021.[9]

Exhibitions, a selection

The institution typically stages six to eight exhibitions per year across its three floors, ranging from thematic group exhibitions to solo presentations by emergent and established artists from around the globe. Here is a selection of Solo exhibitions:

In the history of the contemporary art centre, a handful critically acclaimed group shows were organised.

In 2009 a year-long program at the center was structured as a series of group shows, presentations, performances, screenings and debates [10] including participations by Dineo Seshee Bopape, D.O.R., Simon Denny, Yngve Holen, Mark Leckey, Patrizio di Massimo, Lili Reynaud-Dewar, and Jeremy Shaw.[11]

In 2011 the center organised Melanchotopia; an exhibition with different venues in the city-center of Rotterdam including works by Danaï Anesiadou, Sven Augustijnen, Guillaume Bijl, Monica Bonvicini, Filip Gilissen, Erik van Lieshout, Slavs and Tatars, Harald Thys & Jos De Gruyter and Peter Wächtler.

Publications

The center has developed a curatorial position devoted to publications, with each Director putting a mark on their program. The center's publications range from exhibition catalogues to artists’ books and editions, readers and symposia proceedings to essays.

References
  1. Lorente, J. Pedro (2011). The Museums of Contemporary Art: Notion and Development. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 7. ISBN 9781409405863.
  2. Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy.
  3. "Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. "Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art". E-flux.
  5. "Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art". Netherlands: Rotterdam Info. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  6. http://www.wdw.nl/en/our_program/long_term/in_light_of_25_years
  7. https://www.wdw.nl/en/about_us/team
  8. https://twitter.com/fkawdw/status/1276798445693440000?s=20
  9. http://change.wdw.nl/
  10. https://www.wdw.nl/en/our_program/exhibitions/morality
  11. https://www.wdw.nl/en/our_program/exhibitions/act_ix_let_us_compare_mythologies

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