What is the
DIN A4 Project?
The Project DIN A4 is a
collection of contemporary art of works produced on this designated size
(normally, but not necessarily, the works have been made specifically for this
purpose). It includes both emerging and established artists and even in, some
cases, posthumous works have been included by courtesy of the artistic
executors.
DIN A4 is a European standard
paper size. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normierung (German Institute
for Standardization). The A4 measurements are 210 x 297 mm.
Setting this limitation as a
condition of the size of the works to this particular format has made it
possible to build up, conserve and continue this collection, simply because the
size DIN A4 allows for convenience both in storage and transportation.
The Project has asked
professional artists, from all over the world, to send two works on paper size
DIN A4, in order to apply to participate.
The aim is to encourage
artists to be registered and presented. This project can only be realized with
the cooperation of all artists. The participation of each artist with his/her
work in this project has made the DIN A4 project a permanent manifestation of
the persistent urge of artists to represent their thoughts, feelings,
environment and time.
With this collection of works
we want to make the DIN A4 Project a reference to contemporary art.
Statement
When
evaluating the DIN A4 project, we should start by considering the concept. This
concept has two sides: one, to create an international display of the wide
range of contemporary art; the second, to create a permanent collection.
The underlying thought was,
after all, that it is an artists' project, that participating in the project
should not imply any costs to the artist, apart from sending the works. Their
participation would be guaranteed by the growing prestige of the collection and
its exhibitions.
The charm and strength of the
project is the form: all works are on a standard paper size (DIN A4), often
sketchbook size anyway, which fits into standard envelopes and is easy to store
and to send. Funnily enough with the overseas expansion of the project, it
became clear that DIN A4 is a European standard and Americans had to cut their
paper to size. Well, they did and they do!
Having started in Holland,
with the enthusiasm of the original members, the involvement of other
nationalities quickly spread. Whilst the early impact was that of Dutch and
German artists, there later came vibrant additions from Belgian, French,
Polish, English and Balkan artists.
The DIN A4 exhibition in two
Spanish venues and one in Mexico gave rise to an influx of Spanish speaking
artists and later there came the addition of artists from Romania and Italy,
and later Cuba, Argentina and Peru. Thus the reputation of DIN A4 spread to an
ever widening international field.
DIN A4's Centre of Management has
recently been moved from Malaga, Spain, to Holland. With the addition of new
initiatives, and the continued enthusiastic support of the founders, we are
sure that the project will continue to grow as a vital means of artistic
expression throughout an increasing number of countries both by means of active
participation and through a growing number of national and international exhibitions.
Project DIN A4, a brief
history
2000 The DIN A4
project started in August 2000 as one of the ideas initiated by the Artist
Collective L5, consisting of Pi Backus, Hans Kuys, Petro van Mourik, Ans
Deenen, Margriet Geraets, and Joop Lommertzen, in Roermond, Holland, having ad
hoc sponsoring by the Government of Limburg.
2001 The idea
was extended to become an internet manifestation. At the same time, itinerant
exhibitions were, and are, organized to display the actual works. As of this
time, the exhibition has visited, or is planned to, places like Germany,
France, Holland, Poland, Bosnia, Mexico, and Cuba, as well as other countries.
2006 Part of the
collection was moved to Malaga, at first hosted by the Gabinete de Hyde (Antonio Troyano in coordination with Ernst
Kraft), later by the association Malaga on. (Coordinated by Ernst Kraft and
Veronica Romero)
2008 L5 organised
its farewell exhibition with the show "Din A4 total" in the Stedelijk Museum in Roermond, and after
a representative exhibition in Belforte (Italy), curated by Alfonso Caputo on
behalf of Terra dell'arte, the entire
collection has become the main project of Malaga
on.
2009 The new DIN
A4 website has been launched by the Area de Cultura of Malaga, and the
collection was stored in the Municipal Archive of the city. Ever since relevant
exhibitions have been in organized in Spain, Argentina and Peru.
2014 The Din A4 Project has moved to Leusden, Holland to be continued by the Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa - Terra dell' Arte", under chairmanship of Margareth Degeling.
2014 The Din A4 Project has moved to Leusden, Holland to be continued by the Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa - Terra dell' Arte", under chairmanship of Margareth Degeling.
Present organization of the
DIN A4 project
Conservation, consolidation,
filing, and extending the collection as well its promotion and exhibition, in
collaboration with participating artists, other cultural associations or
institutions, is carried out and is the exclusive responsibility of the Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa
- Terra dell' Arte",: Margareth Degeling, Robert Poelstra and Manuel
Azaro Poelstra.
Address:
Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa - Terra dell' Arte",
For several years, the former organizer Asociación Malaga on and the present one Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa - Terra dell' Arte", have worked closely with Terra dell'arte and Ars Latina
An international committee has
been established to support and advise, when necessary, to guarantee the
artistic standards of the DIN A4 project.
Members of the International
Committee: Pi Backus (as founder and former coordinator of DIN A4 on behalf of
L5), Alfonso Caputo (on behalf of Terra dell'arte and Ars Latina), Laura
Castanedo (on behalf of Terra dell'arte
and Ars Latina), Ingrid Rosas, Jorge
Restrepo, Raúl Fernández Olivi, Juan Carlos Delgado, Juan Pablo Chipe with
Ernst Kraft, as former president of the project, Veronica Romero (on behalf of Malaga on) and the board of the Cultural Foundation "La Casa Holandesa
- Terra dell' Arte": Margareth Degeling (president), Robert Poelstra
(treasurer) and Manuel Azaro Poelstra (secretary).
Any possible future member
will be selected on artistic and organizational merits but also for
geographical reasons to guarantee the global aspect of the project
