Van Abbemuseum Vitrine: Selection Pieter van den Hoogenband - at Van der Valk Hotel Eindhoven

The more than 3,000 contemporary artworks in the Van Abbemuseum constitute the collection of the city of Eindhoven. These are works of art which deserve to be seen and sometimes pop up in unexpected places. Part of the museum’s collection is on display at the Van der Valk Hotel Eindhoven, designed and created by Piet Hein Eek. This display in a glass cart has a central place in the hotel lobby.

The works exhibited are changed regularly and prominent figures from Eindhoven and the surrounding area are able to choose works from the museum’s collection. The exhibited works, that were selected by the third guest curator, Pieter van den Hoogenband, will be on display from Saturday 2 February.

Pieter van den Hoogenband’s selection

Pieter van den Hoogenband selected the model Ship of Tolerance by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. This model of the Ship of Tolerance refers to an international youth project undertaken by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. The project’s mission was to introduce young people to different continents, cultures and identities. The schoolchildren did paintings based on a particular theme. Stitched together, these paintings form the sails of the ship. In every place where it was displayed, the ship was built by carpentry students from The Manchester College under the supervision of the lecturer David Harold, a friend of the artists. The project was carried out in, amongst other places, Siwa (Egypt), Venice (Italy), San Moritz (Switzerland), Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), Havana (Cuba), Miami and New York City (US).

With his selection Van den Hoogenband wishes to pay homage to his recently deceased friend Pieter Knaapen, who was involved with the Van Abbemuseum as a member of the choir. Van den Hoogenband explained: “Pieter Knaapen taught me how important art is. I hope that more people will have the chance to experience that art can touch and inspire you, just as a sports competition can.”