By John Dunkelgrün
Laren, a friendly town at half an hour’s drive Southeast of Amsterdam, used to be a romantic, bucolic village much beloved by artists. Early in the last century, a wealthy art-loving couple, William and Anna Singer, visited it on a tour of Europe. They liked it so much that they bought a piece of land and built a large villa to house and display their growing art collection. In 1956, Anna Singer donated the villa and its collection to the town as an art museum.
The museum houses impressionistic Dutch artwork, paintings from the Barbizon school, and 19th-century works by American painters, including William Singer.
Singer Laren, as it has become known, has a very active program of great modern classic exhibitions, drawing visitors from all over the country and abroad.
The main current exhibition, My World, shows works from three top private Dutch collections. It is special not only because the works are more contemporary than those normally associated with Singer Laren but mainly because they showcase the best contemporary art worldwide. Rudolph de Lorm, the museum’s director, is proud to host one of the finest expositions of contemporary art in the Netherlands and calls it ‘art that makes you drool’.
This fabulous overview includes works by iconic artists such as Ai Weiwei, Charles Avery, Rineke Dijkstra, Marlene Dumas, Anselm Kiefer, and Antonio Obá.
Given a free hand, the well-known art critic and writer Hans den Hartog Jager curated a selection of works from the three private collections that are rarely seen by the general public. His expertise and discerning eye ensure that the exhibition is a true gem for art enthusiasts. He was given the Herculean task of choosing 150 works from collections totaling thousands.
It was a true tour de force to build a coherent exposition of works in many techniques, works by artists from all over the world, and works with entirely different sorts of messages. Den Hartog Jager divided the exposition into seven themes, which were shown in seven big rooms.
An artist creates his own world with his creations. By carefully choosing art, often from all corners of the world, a collector builds his or her own world. From the three worlds of these private collections, Den Hartog Jager, in turn, built his world. Finally, in absorbing this galaxy of often mesmerizing collections, you, the viewer, make it into your own world.
“My World” at the Singer Museum is an inspiring tribute to the diversity of artistic expression. Whether you are an art aficionado or a casual visitor, this exhibition offers a profound experience, encouraging a deeper understanding of how artists perceive the world today and, in turn, how we perceive ourselves. It’s an invitation to explore your own ‘world’ through the vivid stories encapsulated in the artwork. An absolute must-visit for anyone looking to reconnect with the transformative power of art.
Singer Museum, Oude Drift 1, Laren.
Until January 12th, 2025
