SCHWARZWALD

February 26-28, 2010
Featuring Abner Preis, Arno Coenen, Alexander Krone, Michael Markwick,
Dragan Striskovic, Hans van Bentem, Iris Roskam, Marinus de Ruiter,
Martin C. de Waal, Martina Prins, Peter Leeuwerink

Curated by Arno Coenen and Katja Diallo

SCHWARZWALD boldly flirts with religious and moral controversy, within
Arno Coenen’s conception of an enchanted forest. The group exhibition
will travel from the Noordkaap project space in Dordrecht to Arti et
Amicitae in Amsterdam.

Recently Arno Coenen (1972) organised two group exhibitions entitled
Metal Heart, in art space Planet Art and at the alternative art fair
Kunstvlaai in 2008. With the help of likeminded artists Coenen
expressed his fascination for heavy metal, the subcultural phenomenon
that is expressed first and foremost through extremely loud and
dynamic rock music. Coenen first came into contact with Noordkaap
through his participation in the Super La Tief group exhibition. In
2010 he will act as a guest curator in the new project SCHWARZWALD.
Noordkaap is interested in this continuation of the Metal Heart
concept for several reasons. Like Heavy Metal, Dordrecht’s local
working class culture can appear off-putting and antisocial at first
glance. A closer look reveals unique rituals and manners that have
their own tradition, which stems from the Dordrecht’s history as a
port and a tough blue-collar town. The city also has a strong and
visible church tradition. The visual language of heavy metal has
baroque aspects and often refers to biblical themes. The cult
surrounding heavy metal has fanatical, religious dimensions, wherein
fans persevere in their ‘faith’, even in times when their style does
not appeal to a large audience. With a new chapter of Metal Heart,
Noordkaap presents an event that is accessible to diverse audiences,
from art aficionados to metal fans, youth interested in subcultures,
local residents and other curious people.

SCHWARZWALD includes new and existing works by:

group exhibition: Schwarzwald
date: February 26-28
location: Noordkaap, Noordendijk 148 (entrance O), Dordrecht
website: www.noordkaap.org
curators: Arno Coenen en Katja Diallo
participants: Abner Preis, Arno Coenen, Alexander Krone, Dragan
Striskovic, Hans van Bentem, Iris Roskam, Marinus de Ruiter, Martin C.
de Waal, Martina Prins, Michael Markwick, Peter Leeuwerink

Schwarzwald, or Black Forest, is a multimedia group exhibition that
takes place in one weekend. Within the Energiehuis, a former power
plant near the Maas river in Dordrecht, a collaborative artwork will
arise in the form of a dark forest. Within this ‘gesamtkunstwerk’
environment, the artists give expression to the primitive urges of
mankind through painting, sculpture, photography, video, DIY,
performance, opera and heavy metal. Schwarzwald is a project initiated
by the nomadic artist’s collective Noordkaap in collaboration with pop
music centre Popcollectief Drechtsteden. The exhibition is a
continuation of Metal Heart I and II, group exhibitions surrounding
the theme of heavy metal, which artist and curator Arno Coenen
organised at Planet Art and Westergasfabriek.