PAN Director Mark Grol

Diplomat Affairs Magazine is delighted to partner with PAN Amsterdam 2021 to highlight this outstanding Dutch Art fair. We were delighted to ask Mr Mark Grol, Managing Director of PAN a few questions.

BY JULIE KENNEDY/PORTRET DESIREE ENGELAGE

MMr Grol, I can imagine that your first year as managing Director under the aegis of the Corona pandemic was not what you had expected and the lockdown and cancellation of the 2020 version a hard blow, what insights would you say you gathered from this period?

I think I am not alone in saying that the Covid experience has turned our lives and our busi-nesses upside down. As an Art fair, our whole raison d’etre is to bring people together to enjoy art and to network with others who share their passion. Although having to cancel the 2020 PAN Amsterdam was a massive blow both us and to all of the participants, who are shareholders of the fair, it has been inspiring to see how they embraced the new Covid reality and exploited the exciting possibilities offered by social media and online sales. As a result, our world has not just survived, but as thrived in many areas, through new initiatives and diversification. I think there has been a lot of trepidation in the art world about moving online but the pandemic has shown us that it is possible and that the new technology currently available can really help propel us forward as an industry. I find it amusing how many people would have scoffed at joining a Zoom event just 2 years ago and now must be per-suaded to turn up in person! Luckily everyone loves an art fair, especially after such an ex-traordinary year and a half, so it’s good to see ticket sales reflecting everyone’s desire to jump back into real life.

As mentioned previously, PAN then had to operate in stealth mode to recoup losses and is now in full swing as PAN 2021 is about to open doors. What are you most excited about? That we’re coming back with a bang! We have the most amazing line up of participants, not just the galleries themselves who are, of course,

the heart of the fair, but also the amazing participants from the wider art world. This year we want to make the PAN not just a won-derful Art fair but a cultural highlight for the Netherlands. I think everyone would agree that art should be seen in real life and is best enjoyed surrounded by people who share a pas-sion for it so we’re really looking forward to throwing open the doors and welcoming eve-ryone back in.

You yourself have a highly successful international career at Sotheby’s in London and Paris, as renowned art dealer in Hong Kong and Director of the prestigious Cahier D’Arts in Paris, what brought you ‘home” and why PAN? When I was asked to join PAN Amsterdam, I didn’t need to think twice. It’s the largest national Art fair and has the most impressive history. What’s unique about it is that it is an art fair set up by the participants themselves – you really couldn’t ask for more committed, knowledgeable, and passionate shareholders! The PAN’s not only an Art fair where you can find the best the Netherlands has to offer for sale, it’s a cultural meeting space for everyone who loves art in all its many forms.

What would you say is your personal mission as Managing Director of PAN? As the PAN is owned by 150 art dealers, my mission is to ensure they have the best podium possible to realise their own ambitions. My goal is to ensure that the PAN is brimming with all the excitement and passion of the art world and an experience which entices you “AS THE PAN IS OWNED BY 150 ART DEALERS, MY MISSION IS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE BEST PODIUM POSSIBLE TO REALISE THEIR OWN AMBITIONS.”

to get involved. And, although we are a commercial Art fair, I want us to be a showcase for the Netherland’s cultural scene reflecting the wealth and diversity the Dutch art market has to offer the world.

You studied Art in Groningen and are obviously very much an Art connoisseur and lover, what should we in particular look out for at PAN 2021? I would say that you should take ample time to

walk around and enjoy the broad variety of the 110 booths. We might be more interesting than a museum since we showcase the very best there is on the market in the Netherlands in 2021 and we do it across every possible art form you can think of. If you want to know what is big in the art world right now, the PAN is the place to find out. I imagine many of your readers are coming from other countries, so as a proud Dutch man I would suggest visiting Aronson Antiquaries at stand 40. They have the most impressive collection Delftware in the world so definitely worth a visit while living in the Netherlands. And not unimportant, you can even purchase it and become an owner of Dutch history. If you do have a more contemporary taste, do visit the stands of Willem Baars Projects (#30), Jan van Hoof Galerie (#14), Galerie Helga Hofman (#116) or Hidde van Seggelen (#41). They represent a broad spectrum of high-quality contemporary artists and are also well worth a visit!

At Diplomat Affairs magazine we are of course delighted to collaborate and contribute in this way to highlighting PAN to an international audience. How well-known would you say PAN is out-side of the Netherlands? As one of the oldest art fairs in the world, PAN is well known in the international art scene but of course we’d like even more people from around the world to come and enjoy the fair. We’re thrilled that Diplomat Affairs is promoting the fair and hope to welcome you and your readers to PAN 2021 in November.