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",
Dalmatië
5 - 3831 EE – Leusden - The Netherlands
Read further
information
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, 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
Click How can you participate?