GUEST ROOM

GUEST ROOM WENT PUBLIC/BRINGING SOME SUN, FOR THE LAST TIME. THANK YOU!

2011-10-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

With an unplanned public intervention of Ghislain Amar, his concrete steps sculpture, I want to announce the very last post on this blog. I decided to keep the site, so please feel free to comment or contact me in any case. I will be happy to answer questions and listen to your opinions. I am also looking forward to any new discoverers.

I want to thank to all - the visitors, contributors, friends, and (non)believers and especially my family - that helped me to realize my project. I am still planning to share with you a final outcome that would be my contribution for the GUEST ROOM, though this is a process that needs some time.

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Ghislain's Amar piece, stands in front of the building of the former GUEST ROOM space, it reminds us of an amazing time as well as it shows new possibilities...

SEE YOU ALL SOMEWHERE IN ROTTERDAM THEN!!!

Weronika Zielinska

Rotterdam Juni 2011

ABOUT HOW ORDINARY OBJECTS BECOME AN EXTRAORDINARY PIECES, AND HOW SPECIAL EVENTS BECOME A SUNDAY AFTERNOONS ROUTINE.

2011-05-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

I guess it might be strange to realize that GUEST ROOM project just had his very last opening (!).

Past Sunday afternoon Ghislain Amar had the honor to exhibit his work as the closing artist of a half-year project that took place in our house. As for the limited space, as well the message that has always been spread through a grapevine – the event was visited in great numbers of people(!).

Amar showed a spatial installation that consisted of plaster sculpture, concrete sculpture, analogue photographs, slide projection, sound and a book. Presented objects made us wonder about those moments when we let our thoughts simply to flow. While sitting on the pavement outside in front of the house, we give up the time to just be. And without trying to catch it, we accidently get absorbed by those objects/happenings that normally we do not pay much attention to.

Exactly ‘some representations‘, as the artist put it, of such carefree forgetfulness were viewed in the GUEST ROOM space.

This installation was an invitation, a gesture made towards the viewer, a motivation to discover something new, to end up in a place you never planned to visit, and finally to allow yourself to reflect on such discovery. If art does not exist without its receiver, if an exhibition does not happens when there is no public, if according to Ghislain Amar: a gallery space is able to produce a (new) work, then what she/he is confronted with, has definitely a potential to be found (again), to be experienced truthfully as it is there. Standing in the corner not pretending to be something, which it is not, just a simple plastic bag…

installation view / slide projection of a google earth image

detail / photo diptych

installation view / 93,4 FM

installation view / concrete flight of steps

detail / plaster sculptures

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When leaving the space some people were telling me: see you next time… :) My good friend Ania admitted, that for her the Sunday visits at our place where something what she was looking very much to, at the same time they marked their own place in her weekly agenda. She even compared them with The Thursday Dinners…[1]

P.S. It was lovely, again. To all that came - a great thank you!!

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[1] The Thursday Dinners were meetings of artists, intellectuals, and statesmen held by the last King of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski in the era of Enlightenment in Poland.

The dinners were held first in the Royal Castle in Warsaw and later in the Water Palace between 1770 and 1784. During the dinners, which typically lasted three hours and resembled French salons, the King dined with his guests and discussed literature, art and politics.

DAYS OF WAVERING/SOME REPRESENTATIONS

2011-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the 8th of May at 4 PM Guest Room temporary project space at Aelbrechtskade 128, Rotterdam, will open its door to the public for the last time. Please feel welcome to join for this very special event.

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DAYS OF WAVERING/SOME REPRESENTATIONS

The exhibition is made out of forms that have been put together during the two weeks spent at the Guest Room which is located in Delfshaven, Rotterdam, in an area of the neighborhood where i don't usually go to.

I have been thinking a lot about the idea of spending time floating around as of walking in the neighborhood, eating in snack bars, looking at the waiters working, looking at the people passing by the window, sitting on the stoop and smelling the tires from the garage next door, as well as going to the photo lab to process some films, or to the hardware store to find some plaster, concrete and other confusing words and materials.

I have been thinking about the conditions needed for exploration to appear and how representation enters that process and shape it. I would ideally like the photographs, sculptures and objects I show, to be encountered like a punctured balloon found on the rooftop of an abandoned school.

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wave/wavering/ocean/oceanic

a hundred and twenty eight/128

the boomboxes and the hot concrete

I think if life exists/it's probably like this

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Big thanks to Weronika Zielinska, Anna Maria Łuczak, Mehdi Belhaj Kacem and Jeffrey Lewis

Ghislain.

GHISLAIN AMAR - WORKING AMONG BLUE

2011-04-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

Through this post I want to introduce you to the very last artist that is working now at the Guest Room project space. Ghislain Amar (1984), is a French artist currently doing a residency at Foundation B.a.d.

"THIS PLACE WOULD BE PERFECT IF ONLY IT HAD AN OCEAN VIEW"

2011-04-28T05:17:00.003-07:00

"There is a slight pressure to perform, to talk interesting talk. This is not my intention as a maker but how does one escape it?

"During our Sunday gathering Esmé Valk wanted to reflect on her ongoing project called Zicht op Zalmhaven. At the same time, her wish was to create a new work that would consist of few different stages where almost in each of them the audience/guests participation would be crucial for its own sake as well.

When people arrived they could meet each other and take place at the table. The event began with the artist talking about her way of working, notions that interests her and/or is relevant for her practice. She talked about how through the Zicht op Zalmhaven project her guests share their knowledge with her, how she transcribes their conversations and make books out of it. Finally, how she like to observe the whole event, distract them by joining the conversation from time to time while actually preparing the dinner for them.

In her talk she included two important quotes that derive from two different conversations. Together with Marc we were asked to perform them. One piece was about art either being able to solve the problems or not, the distinction between art and daily life...is there any? The other was talking about performativity of life and people constantly playing their roles. Then Valk came to the point when she spooked about the place where we are now, the Guest Room and its particular location within the domestic environment. She talked about it as "the ideal Zicht op Zalmhaven location" when almost being a white cube.

What did we, the audience, encounter last Sunday afternoon? What have we seen? Were we a part of something that was unspoken?

While the artist did not wanted to use a camera or even a voice recorder to capture the event, as if the people would start to act and react differently. Although she herself sometimes would take a leading role and have her time to present such ideas, that would confuse the spectator and let him/her to think like that even more.

Esmé Valk preparing the meal on the evening before

Just before the opening, Esmé making the dough for easter bread rolls

First guests already at the table

Jay Tan (turned back) in loose conversation with our guests

ARTIST PRACTICE/HER TALK/THE PERFORMANCE

"There is a moment where a conversation over a meal takes place between two to four invited guests that don’t know each other but who share an interest in a topic which is also shared by myself."

Moment when me and Marc joined the performance through reading the pieces from Zicht op Zalmhaven books

MAKING OF

"I no longer practice these game-like challenges but this approach to using the things around me became an integral part of living my life. It’s a way of doing things that uses the self-thought and the how-to; aspects that are also inherent in recipe transmission."

Making the easter bread rolls

Ania very proud of her chicken(?) bread roll

...while the rest of the guests still strugling

IN THE MEAN TIME WHEN THE DOUGH WAS IN THE OVEN

Esmé Valk invited Jay Tan to talk about her working method, whereas she explained to us what does it mean to be ON or OFF, what makes the diference to be either ON or OFF?

A RECIPE

"A recipe is a set of instructions which often allows for free interpretation by the executor. Usually one doesn’t have to follow it exactly, it’s a suggestion and method for sharing ideas that can bridge cultures and generations."

THE BREAD

...exactly which bread creature is who's?

THE MEAL

“(...)This place would be so much better if only it had an ocean view”. We thought of this as a very useful sentence that can be used in pretty much any situation. For example, to break an unwanted silence in conversation.*The sentence expresses a wish and allows for dreaming, you can imagine that by just running over those dunes, you’ll be splashing around in the ocean waves.But saying it draws the conversation back to the situation one finds oneself in, together with the other person. I want to share this how-to for any occasion with you today."

A creamy vegetables soup, I guess Valk would call it a tasty reward

Everyone at the table

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*speaking about herself and her partner

All quotes in this post coming from the text that has been written by Esmé Valk on the occasion of "This place would be perfect if only it had an ocean view" project and they have been used under the permission of the artist.

INVITATION FOR THE FIFTH GUEST ROOM OPENING

2011-04-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the 24th of April at 4 PM, GUEST ROOM* temporary project space at Aelbrechtskade 128, Rotterdam, will open its doors to the public for the fifth time.

In the frame of the Guest Room project artist Esmé Valk (NL 1977) will give a presentation that oscillates between the notions of the artist talk, the performance and the concept of the ‘how to‘. In a shared moment around the dinner table Valk will reflect on the relation between domestic and artistic life. She will discuss the long-term project Zicht op Zalmhaven and simultaneously touch upon the 'lived-in' nature of the domestic environment, being comfortable and the relation between things. As part of the presentation Valk has invited the British artist Jay Tan (UK 1982), to share her views on ‘pottering about’ and on doing various things in an almost aimless manner.

A simple meal will be prepared and served as part of the presentation This place would be perfect if only it had an ocean view.

We are kindly requesting that you arrive at Guest Room between 4 and 4:30 PM. The presentation will start at 4.30 PM sharp. Due to the nature of this work we are obligated to keep to the schedule and can’t allow access to people arriving later.

GREAT WEATHER HELPS TO DEVELOP THE BEST IDEAS

2011-04-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

I really have not much to say. This is why, the title of this post may perfectly speaks for itself.

btw. Esmé is working on the concept for a very promising event that will take place during the afternoon on the Eastern Sunday. She enjoys the atmosphere of the Guest Room and the lovely spring breeze.

WHAT DOES THE ARTIST IN HIS/HER (TEMPORARY) STUDIO?

2011-04-13T01:12:00.000-07:00

Esmé Valk started this week her residency period. She asked me for a chair and a table. The chairs are not a problem in our house, but unfortunately the only available table in the house is the play table of our son (an old school table). Esmé accepted this table and....began to read...

AFTER THE OPENING...

2011-04-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

Paula Salas 2011

Confinement Room: a story about following intructions

installation view

detail

detail

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Last Sunday artist Paula Salas, showed at the Guest Room the results of her two weeks residency - the final work titled Confinement Room: a story about following instructions. The narrative build up of many sequences, as if in the movie, guided the viewer among different characters and the emotions they were representing.
The series of (15x21) images was presented on the wall and hang on the eye level. The spatial installation of Salas photographs formed at the same time an interesting image and a surrounding for our public. By including on her photographs all the corners of the physical room and inviting people who did took part in her project as the performers, the outside visitor could not figure out who was still locked in the room, and who supposes to free them.

PAULA SALAS "CONFINEMENT ROOM - A STORY ABOUT FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS"

2011-03-30T03:15:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 3rd of April at 4PM GUEST ROOM, temporary project space, for the fourth time will open its door for the public.

Paula Salas, visual artist from Chile, during her Artistic Research MA at the Amsterdam University, came across an intriguing aspect in the artist practice - the ARCHIVE. Salas installation titled "Confinement Room: a story about following instructions" questions the notion of the archive, that may (or may not) gain a transition into a new work.

In the course of two weeks, artist had developed a work without her being physically in the project space. Only through brief messages she directed the whole project. Precise instructions were given to several volunteers as well as to me - the person behind the camera.

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Hope to see you at the opening,

Weronika

PAULA SALAS WAS NOT HERE(...)

2011-03-25T02:50:00.000-07:00

According to the detailed Guest Room schedule - Paula Salas (Chile), suppose to work here now. She would kick of the 21st March and finish with (great) opening on 3rd of April.

What did/will happen with her residency then?

The artist was here last Monday, just for few hours. She left some tape marks on the floor and A4 prints with texts. She asked me to be her eyes and hands.

She asks you to be her tools...

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Unfortunately in the mean time there wont be any new posts coming on the blog. I cannot document the artist working process since the process itself is very much her final work.

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Off course the opening of Paula Salas (3.04.2011) is still on the map!

THE PRINCIPLES OF A GOOD OPENING

2011-03-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

1. Interesting piece that needs to be discussed.

2. Participation of very important poeple.

(Artist Joshua Thies in conversation with Jereon Boomgaard)

3. The involvement of the the artist in his work.

4. Public that is willing to find out about the maker's concerns.

/Also, public that is abble to "see more" than what it is shown

(here Martijn Konings thinking about...)

5. Pure aesthetics of the art object.

6. The performativity as such.

7. Helpfull friends.

8. Extensive and diverse public.

9. Self-satisfied performer(s).

10. True audience.

(Marijke Appelman)

11.Dedicated audience.

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Joshua Thies was the third artist that have worked for two weeks in the Guest Room project space. His installation consisted of a 3D object - self designed wind-instrument and a voice recording.

Potentiality, motivation and fulfillment (terms constantly audibled from the speakers) stood for the basic concept that was supposing to call the viewer for action. The whole setting was a proposition for the deconstruction of a stage. Without physical podium as such and without a clear distinction for the audience and the performer(s).

This work could exist in its full meaning only then. At the very moment of playing and listening, at the same time.

JOSHUA THIES SUCCESS PRINCIPLE OPENING ON 13th MARCH AT 4pm

2011-03-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

Dear reader please join us for the 3rd opening at

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PROGRESS

2011-03-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

The exhibition opening of Joshua Thies will be on coming Sunday. However in the Guest Room we do not see much yet, the artist assures that the making process is in constant progress. Although I can observe it, as well as I am taking an active role in it, still it will be very exciting for me to see the final as well...

SOME OTHER NOISE

2011-03-04T04:43:00.000-08:00

While the Guest Room got empty and I have had busy time with thinking: how to capture the project for the future? The space got filled with not much objects (yet), but with some sounds. The American, Rotterdam based artist Joshua Thies is the 3rd guest in my the project space. So far I can not say more then; he is willing to explore the Guest Room through chords and notes instead of lines, dots, and stains...

Thinking of:...

Rotterdam, 3.03.2011

THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN...

2011-02-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

...that is how camera obscura works.

Sarah Pink&Martijn Kroesbeek

Camera Obscura at the GUESTROOM

Rotterdam 2011

Although the light outside was not that favourable that day, all of our guests were quite amazed by the simplicity of Sara's Pink work. In collaboration with Martijn Kreosbeek, they taught us how to look in order to really see things. The visitor had to follow the labyrinth which was leading to one of the corners in the room. He had to sit for a little while on a stool and wait until his eyes would use to the darkness. Afterwords he could enjoy the beautiful image of the outside world.

Spectators that became a part of the projection

20.02.2011 EVERY TEN MINUTES. CLICK! opening

Artists Sarah Pink and Joanne Saltet during the opening

20th February at 3PM / EVERY TEN MINUTES. CLICK!

2011-02-16T13:09:00.001-08:00

(Due to limited possibilities of the space, I need to ask you to confirm your presence upfront.)

LOOKING BACK

2011-02-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Since I have not actually explained the work of Dico Kruijsse I would like to do that now.

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As the first guest artist who worked at the GUEST ROOM, Kruijsse took as a point of departure (literally), the fact of having a very limited space. He took into his consideration the fact, that the visitors will be willing to enter this space. Although visually he blocked it from all the sites. The wooden platform fitted exactly between the walls. What also made us think as if it was barging against them. Through other objects installed in the the space, the artist made us aware of the existence of the walls, celling and floor as well. The two black books hanging from the curtain rail, could been slid along the window by the visitors. Images presented in them were the artist's reflection on the objects seen outside. An explicit detail fixed attention of almost every visitor. By the door that was out of use, Kruijsse drew on the floor its possible arc.

Dico builds imaginary fences, platforms or even machines that do not necessarily have to work. He creates sites where all collected objects, though made out of different materials, present a coherent cognitions on aspects like; possibility, limitation and confrontation. To build them, he uses simple materials in a very smart way. He let the spectator not only explore his installation by entering it, but to experience its process of becoming at the same time.

Installation view

Book with images found on the Internet

and pieces of wallpaper found in a Dutch DIYshop

Door not in use (detail)

Installation view (detail)

Installation view

LONG TIME NO SEE. NO HEAR.

2011-02-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

How ever do not be worry! Guest Room still exists and his guests are spending time very productively. For this time, artist Sarah Pink together with great technical help from Martijn Kroesbeek created an 3-dimensional labyrinth. Panels constructed of wooden beams and stretched canvas will guide the viewer from the entrance of the room to its exit.

To keep you curious, here some of the today snap shots.

GUEST ROOM - DICO KRUIJSSE OPENING

2011-01-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

The first FalseStart openieng was a big success. There came around fifteen visitors in total. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the final result. During this evening our guests could found out more about the working process from the artist himself. At the end, we all had a lot of interesting conversations.

Thank you all for coming!

Hoping to see you on the next one,

Weronika

NIGHT BEFORE THE OPENING

2011-01-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

installation view

detail

Dico Kruijsse installation by night. Day before the opening.

OPENING ON 30th JANUARY AT 4PM

2011-01-28T00:34:00.000-08:00

image

Anna Maria Luczak

(Due to limited space, please confirm your presence upfront.Thank you)

TWO WEEKS OF THINKING, TALKING AND ...BUILDING.

2011-01-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

Working with Dico is very particular. He has got a lot of interesting ideas.

I had a great time, thank you!

If you are curious what will be final outcome from the first part of the GUEST ROOM project please follow us on our blog for any new posts and announcements.

SARAH PINK AND MARTIJN KROESBEEK FIRST TIME IN THE GUEST ROOM

2011-01-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Just before the christmas break Sarah and Martijn visited the project space in R'dam. After Dico's Kruijsse working period they will come to build an unice camera obscura. Let us hope for some nice light ;)

Saar and Martijn, Rotterdam 2010

FIRST OFICIAL OPENING

2010-12-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

Today afternoon I invited my family for the first oficial GUEST ROOM opening,

Rotterdam, 2010

ps. (for upcoming openings and other events please follow welcomeintheguestroom.blogspot.com)

DICO'S VISIT

2010-12-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

On Friday 3rd of December Dico Kruijsse had visited the GUEST ROOM.

After very fruitful conversation he decided to take part in my project. He will be the first artist who will work for period of two weeks, starting from January.
Further we decided not to talk about the work that he will make here, but instead go on with the working method that we have learned once during the master class with William Hunt;
Bring an object that may be your inspiration, or do not bring anything at all. Start from the new.

Dico Kruijsse, 2010

info on the artist http://kruijsse.blogspot.com/

FIRST SKETCH

2010-11-30T02:50:00.000-08:00

Marcel Broodthaers

Musée D'Art Moderne XIX' Siécle (BIS)

Departament Des Aigles

sketch after Marcel Broodthaers

Weronika Zielinska

Rotterdam 2010

PROJECT INTRODUCTION

2010-11-30T02:37:00.000-08:00

Project title: GUEST ROOM

Duration: half year, from January 2011

Place: for info please contact guestroomguestroom@gmail.com

Dear,

I would like to introduce you to my new project that I am just about to start. I hope you can find some time to read my latter carefully and who knows - maybe you will offer me some of your ideas back - and like to take part in this particular project.

Some time ago I felt stacked in my working space and I decided to move on by changing it.

I did not have much choice as I have got any savings or so; I had to stay at my home. So I moved but not really far. I went down the stairs to the first level of my house which is basically the second floor in the building.

This room is unused by the most of time during the year. Only when we (me and my family) have guest we offer her/him this space to stay in.

This time there wont be no guest as such, either coming from far or not. Willing to have some rest before she or he will leave again.

This time I want to invite different people, at different time. "Just" to either work here, or make a work - for here.

Reflect on this very special room, its formal destination and its present meaning.

It is a space on the back of the house. Around 16m2 and about 2,80m high. From the east side there is a big window with a balcony door. Although the room has nice light the whole day.

I wonder, how would you deal with this unusual situation?

Where things like private and public are overlapping oneself. Where inside and outside almost do not exist.
FInally, where it is my working space, your working space and a place to come to visit and to see.

I invite you to be my guest.

Best wishes,

Weronika Zielinska

artist atelier, sketch

2010

artist atelier, sketch

2010