↳ Exhibitions

RSVP #2 at Billytown

January 20, 2023

Artists: Alexander Webber, Johannes Luik, Bernice Nauta, Zwaantje Kurpershoek, Iede Reckman, Peng Zhang, Ines Dobelle – Babeth Rambault, Jan Dirk Adams, Job Bos, Jiajia Qi, Sikarnt Skoolisariyaporn, Katherina Heil, Alexander Kadow, Marieke van ‘t Zet, Julie Arphi, Melle de Boer, Jeroen Allart, Paul de Jong, Tibor Koek, Peter van Beveren, Jonathan Monk, Rik Möhlmann, Karin Kytökangas, Robbert Pauwels, Klaas Bijl, Robbin Heyker, Just Quist, Sam Hersbach, Emiel Zeno, Tatiana Kolganova, Marianna Maruyama, Verena Blok, Polina Medvedeva, Yukari Nakamichi, Stijn Pommée

Exhibition title: RSVP #2

Curated by: Katherina Heil and Robbin Heyker

Venue: Billytown, The Hague, The Netherlands

Date: December 9, 2022 – January 28, 2023

Photography: Katherina Heil / Kim David Bots all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Billytown

On December 9th, 2022 Billytown opens its doors with an exhibition showing the work of 36 artists.
The exhibition series RSVP began in 2022. After almost two years of shuffling between togetherness and isolation, we recognized the importance of connections, conversations and working relationships as a necessity for any artistic practice. Artists don’t exist in a vacuum, they are part of intricate networks of colleagues, friends, teachers, and family. While we may not always be able to bring people together, we can bring works together. For this exhibition artists from within Billytown each invited a guest to show a work in parallel with their own. Since its first edition last year, this group show has become an integral part of the annual program of Billytown. Within this collection of eighteen duo shows, we find artists who collided overseas and ended up living in the same city, and others who passed each other once and never again. Some saw the artist first, others saw their work first, even years beforehand. There are people who have never met, years-long collaborations, provocative challenges, or simply guests who provide encouragement and inspiration. Theoretical connections, material connections, and connections between the present and past. In Billytown, we feel the generative intimacy of working together, but also the chaos it brings. While the connection between each pair is the primary focus, new and unexpected connections appear between other works in the space. As such, each duet provides a guiding voice within the often chaotic context of a large group show. From the wide variety of motivations and impulses behind each artist’s invitation, questions arise about the nature of invitation and the potential of collaboration.

-Maja Klaassens

RSVP #2, 2023, exhibition view, Billytown, The Hague

Melle de Boer, Superman, 2020-2022 and Jeroen Allart, De Prendre un Bain, 2022

Verena Blok, Babcia, 2021 and Polina Medvedeva, BUT THIS WAS LATER, WHEN THEY ALREADY HAD A NAME FOR US/ НО ЭТО БЫЛО ПОЗЖЕ, КОГДА УЖЕ НАЗЫВАЛИ ЭТО КАКИМ-ТО ИМЕНЕМ, 2021

Sam Hersbach, (2021-2023NL mountains) cosmic horror butterfly series, 2022 and Emiel Zeno, OV Stunts, 2021

Emiel Zeno, OV Stunts, 2021 (detail)

Jiajia Qi, Maybe Very Happy, 2022 and Sikarnt Skoolisariyaporn, Magic is in the Hills, Trauma is the Wild Thing, Tropics is an Illness, 2022

Peter van Beveren, ME, 2022 and Jonathan Monk, Restaurant Drawing, 2022

Jonathan Monk, Restaurant Drawing, 2022 (detail)

Iede Reckman, Passage-fence, 2022 and Peng Zhang, Circus; Cloud Holding; Solo Dance, 2021

Karin Kytökangas, The Longest Exhale in the World, 2021 and Rik Möhlmann, errwekugwer, 2020

Rik Möhlmann, errwekugwer, 2020 (detail)

Katherina Heil, Celestial Body, 2017 and Alexander Kadow, HG#154, 2022

Katherina Heil, Celestial Body, 2017 (detail) and Alexander Kadow, HG#154, 2022 (detail)

Babeth Rambault, Le Saloon, 2021 and Ines Dobelle, Matsyvase, 2022

Babeth Rambault, Le Saloon, 2021 (detail)

Ines Dobelle, Matsyvase, 2022 (detail)

Johannes Luik, An Action for Everyday: Fold 1, 2022 and Alexander Webber, I always thought that my Bosch 43 piece screwdriver and bit set would last forever, 2022

Alexander Webber, I always thought that my Bosch 43 piece screwdriver and bit set would last forever, 2022 (detail)

Johannes Luik, An Action for Everyday: Fold 1, 2022 (detail)

Just Quist, Miniatuur, 2020 and Robbin Heyker, Diăn Piě, 2022

Bernice Nauta, Backstage picture of Bernice Nauta with her stunt double Beck Wyatt on set of ‘Cast Non Appearance’ , 2022 and Zwaantje Kurpershoek, Bobin (who has but two options in destiny), 2021