An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With

Artists: Athos Bulcão, Marcos Castro, Anna Franceschini, Ni Haifeng, Nicolás Lamas, Praneet Soi, Adriana Varejão, Ana Vaz, Bouke de Vries, Raed Yassin, Karlos Gil, Belén Zahera

Exhibition title: An exhibition with works by…

Curated by: Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, Bernardo José de Souza

Venue: Witte de With, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Date: January 19 – August 23, 2020

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Witte de With

This exhibition explores the immigration of form. It regards a cultural product that is as much the result of local traditions as it is a cosmopolitan artifact. Here, consider Delft Blue in the Netherlands. Now, consider a piece of Qinghua Porcelain in China, or Iznik Ceramic in Turkey, Azulejo in Portugal, China in Britain, or Talavera in Spain and Talavera Poblana in Mexico. These are all blue-and-white ceramics that can be traced back to global trade. This type of artifact signals a commercial approach—by and large through colonialism—that massively transformed civilizations. By focusing on an aesthetic manifestation of a world in movement, this exhibition invites you to consider a blue-and-white ceramic piece as both a vessel and a port. It gathers artworks in different media made by contemporary artists from the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

In the Netherlands, the rise in popularity of blue and white ceramics came by way of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the early seventeenth century. The esteem and value of these ceramics was not only because their provenance and designs were considered exotic. Their material composition was foreign, too. These imported pieces were made in porcelain, of which invention and related enterprise was protectively overseen by the Chinese Dynasty. In the fourteenth century, when porcelain was considered “white gold,” The Ottoman Empire was already commissioning custom-made Chinese porcelain for export. They are also credited for having provided the Chinese with cobalt, the blue color-producing mineral, which they sourced from the region known today as Iraq. But it was long-distance maritime trade that globally internationalized the style of blue and white ceramics.

Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Athos Bulcão, Brasilia TV Tower, 1966/2019, ceramic tiles on wood panels, courtesy of the artist and the Athos Bulcão Foundation. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Karlos Gil en Belén Zahera, Parasite (Magic Spout), 2020, earthenware, courtesy the artists. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Nicolás Lamas, Syncretic smuggling, 2020, found objects and mixed media, courtesy the artist. Athos Bulcão, Brasilia TV Tower, 1966/2019, ceramic tiles on wood panels, courtesy of the artist and the Athos Bulcão Foundation. Praneet Soi, Untitled (Jehangir Celebrating Holi With His Consorts), Blue Dog, Bul-bul (Thrush), Peacock, and Kingfisher, 2017, all works acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Karlos Gil en Belén Zahera, Parasite (Magic Spout), 2020, earthenware, courtesy the artists. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Nicolás Lamas, Syncretic smuggling, 2020, found objects and mixed media, courtesy the artist. Athos Bulcão, Brasilia TV Tower, 1966/2019, ceramic tiles on wood panels, courtesy of the artist and the Athos Bulcão Foundation. Praneet Soi, Untitled (Jehangir Celebrating Holi With His Consorts), 2017, acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Nicolás Lamas, Syncretic smuggling, 2020, found objects and mixed media, courtesy the artist. Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Ni Haifeng, Of The Departure and The Arrival, 2005, 149 porcelain objects, wood pallets, courtesy the artist, Galerie In Situ—fabienne leclerc, and Lumen Travo Gallery, ABN AMRO Collection, Museum De Domijnen, Collectie Sittard-Geleen, Privé Collectie, Collection Matthijs Erdman. Adriana Varejão, Quadro ferido [Wounded Painting], 1992, oil on canvas, courtesy the artist and Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel. Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Ni Haifeng, Of The Departure and The Arrival, 2005, 149 porcelain objects, wood pallets, courtesy the artist, Galerie In Situ—fabienne leclerc, and Lumen Travo Gallery, ABN AMRO Collection, Museum De Domijnen, Collectie Sittard-Geleen, Privé Collectie, Collection Matthijs Erdman. Adriana Varejão, Mapa de Lopo Homem II [Map of Lopo Homem II], 1992–2004, oil on wood with suture thread, private Collection, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Ni Haifeng, Of The Departure and The Arrival, 2005, 149 porcelain objects, wood pallets, courtesy the artist, Galerie In Situ—fabienne leclerc, and Lumen Travo Gallery, ABN AMRO Collection, Museum De Domijnen, Collectie Sittard-Geleen, Privé Collectie, Collection Matthijs Erdman. Adriana Varejão, Mapa de Lopo Homem II [Map of Lopo Homem II], 1992–2004, oil on wood with suture thread, private Collection, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Praneet Soi, Coordinatesand Coordinates – Nocturne (Blue), 2020, both acrylic and silverpoint on canvas, courtesy the artist. Anna Franceschini, THE ORACLE OF DELFT, 2020, performance, found objects, video, courtesy the artist, Galeria Vera Cortês, Lisbon, Portugal, and Vistamare | Vistamare Studio, Pescara | Milano, Italy. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Praneet Soi, Coordinates – Nocturne (Blue), 2020, acrylic and silverpoint on canvas, courtesy the artist. Anna Franceschini, THE ORACLE OF DELFT, 2020, performance, found objects, video, courtesy the artist, Galeria Vera Cortês, Lisbon, Portugal, and Vistamare | Vistamare Studio, Pescara | Milano, Italy. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Anna Franceschini, THE ORACLE OF DELFT, 2020, performance, found objects, video, courtesy the artist, Galeria Vera Cortês, Lisbon, Portugal, and Vistamare | Vistamare Studio, Pescara | Milano, Italy. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Raed Yassin, Yassin Dynasty, 2013, hand-painted porcelain vases, wood and textile, courtesy of the artist and Kalfayan Galleries, Athens—Thessaloniki. Adriana Varejão, Monocromo redondo Jun, 2014, oil and plaster on canvas, Defares Collectie. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Adriana Varejão, White Mimbres IV, 2015, oil and plaster on canvas, THE EKARD COLLECTION. Bouke de Vries, Memory Vessel 2, 2013, seventeenth century raku-fired Chinese porcelain vase with cover, glass, collection Ms G. van der Meer; Marine Memory Vessels, 2016, eighteenth century Chinese porcelain (marine archeological) storage vessels with covers, glass and gold-plated silver, private Collection; Worcester Coffee and Tea set, 2019, eighteenth century, first period Worcester porcelain, glass, courtesy the artist and Ron Mandos Gallery; Memory Vessel 29, 2015, late-seventeenth century Japanese (Arita) porcelain ewer, glass, collection Kralingen; Memory Vessel 51, 2017, nineteenth century Moroccan earthenware vase with cover, glass, collection Mr. Laurence Rundell; Memory Vessel Albarello, 2018, seventeenth century Italian earthenware Majolica drug jar, glass, collection Rob Michiels Auctions; Memory Tobacco Jar Brasilije, 2019, eighteenth century Dutch Delft tobacco jar, glass, courtesy the artist and Ron Mandos Gallery; Memory Vessel 4, 2013, fourteenth sixteenth century Thai porcelain vase and cover, glass and walnut, London Private Collection. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo[It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Bouke de Vries, Memory Vessel 2, 2013, seventeenth century raku-fired Chinese porcelain vase with cover, glass, collection Ms G. van der Meer; Marine Memory Vessels, 2016, eighteenth century Chinese porcelain (marine archeological) storage vessels with covers, glass and gold-plated silver, private Collection; Worcester Coffee and Tea set, 2019, eighteenth century, first period Worcester porcelain, glass, courtesy the artist and Ron Mandos Gallery; Memory Vessel 29, 2015, late-seventeenth century Japanese (Arita) porcelain ewer, glass, collection Kralingen; Memory Vessel 51, 2017, nineteenth century Moroccan earthenware vase with cover, glass, collection Mr. Laurence Rundell; Memory Vessel Albarello, 2018, seventeenth century Italian earthenware Majolica drug jar, glass, collection Rob Michiels Auctions; Memory Tobacco Jar Brasilije, 2019, eighteenth century Dutch Delft tobacco jar, glass, courtesy the artist and Ron Mandos Gallery; Memory Vessel 4, 2013, fourteenth sixteenth century Thai porcelain vase and cover, glass and walnut, London Private Collection. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Karlos Gil en Belén Zahera, Parasite (Magic Spout), 2020, earthenware, courtesy the artists. Adriana Varejão, Azulejaria de Cozinha com Presuntos [‘Kitchen’s Tiles with Hams’], 1995, oil on canvas, BPD Kunstcollectie. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Kristien Daem

Adriana Varejão, Paraty, 2011, oil and plaster on canvas, Private Collection, Portugal. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Adriana Varejão, Paraty, 2011, oil and plaster on canvas, Private Collection, Portugal. Marcos Castro, Era una noche lluviosa, pero no era de noche ni estaba lloviendo [It was a rainy evening, but it was neither evening nor raining], 2020, acrylic on wall, courtesy of the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Praneet Soi, Blue Dog, Bul-bul (Thrush), Peacock, and Kingfisher, 2017, all works acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: KJeroen Lavèn

Athos Bulcão, Brasilia TV Tower, 1966/2019, ceramic tiles on wood panels, courtesy of the artist and the Athos Bulcão Foundation. Praneet Soi, Blue Dog, Bul-bul (Thrush), Peacock, and Kingfisher, 2017, all works acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Nicolás Lamas, Syncretic smuggling, 2020, found objects and mixed media, courtesy the artist. Praneet Soi, Untitled (Jehangir Celebrating Holi With His Consorts), 2017, acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Praneet Soi, Untitled (Jehangir Celebrating Holi With His Consorts), 2017, acrylic on papier-mâché, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Jeroen Lavèn

Adriana Varejão, Azulejaria de Cozinha com Presuntos [‘Kitchen’s Tiles with Hams’], 1995, oil on canvas, BPD Kunstcollectie. Karlos Gil en Belén Zahera, Parasite (Magic Spout), 2020, earthenware, courtesy the artists. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Adriana Varejão, Azulejaria de Cozinha com Presuntos [‘Kitchen’s Tiles with Hams’], 1995, oil on canvas, BPD Kunstcollectie. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Ana Vaz, Occidente (West), 2014, 16mm film transferred to HD video; sound; 15’15”, courtesy the artist. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn

Nicolás Lamas, Syncretic smuggling, 2020, found objects and mixed media, courtesy the artist. Karlos Gil en Belén Zahera, Parasite (Magic Spout), 2020, earthenware, courtesy the artists. Exhibition overview An exhibition with works by… at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2020. Photographer: Jeroen Lavèn