7 minute read
THE GALLERIST
THE GALLERIST TIM VAN LAERE
When Tim Van Laere opened his first gallery in Antwerp’s Zuid district as a twenty-something in 1997, he already knew that the artist would always be his most important incentive. 25 years later, and with a recent move to the upcoming Nieuw Zuid area, the gallerist finds himself in love with the new space that he built together with architects OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen, and life itself amidst the most exciting contemporary artists.
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WHAT IS YOUR FIRST ART-RELATED MEMORY?
TIM: “My parents, and especially my father, used to take me and my brother Tom (Van Laere, artist Admiral Freebee) to museums from a very young age. On these trips we discovered the works of Picasso, Giacometti and Matisse. Although we often played in the museums at that time, both me and my brother can say that many of those works have left a lasting impression on us. Our father also raised us with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.
Tom and I share a passion for art and music. For his latest record The Gardener, he has also collaborated with artists that I represent. For example, Marcel Dzama designed the cover of his record and CD, and he has collaborated several times with Rinus Van de Velde in his studio for the recording of his video clips. We also appear in the film The Villagers by Rinus Van de Velde together. So it’s a cross-pollination.”
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO FOUND YOUR OWN GALLERY?
“When I returned from the US, where I did my studies and played College tennis, I decided to open up my own gallery. I’ve always had a passion for art, and for as long as I can remember I’ve been attracted to the autonomous character of the artist.”
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU MOST TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARTIST AND GALLERY OWNER?
“I cannot emphasize enough how important the relationship is between the artist and the gallerist. Our artists are our number one priority. We do everything for them, this also translates to my personal life. I will always make time for my artists. They can discuss everything with me and me and the team will always do everything in our power to support them in their journey, so they can achieve the goals that they have in mind.
This type of collaboration requires tremendous trust from both sides. Bringing out an artist’s works is a delicate thing and getting it out in the right way is a huge responsibility. If this is not done with the right feeling and knowledge, it can destroy an artist. I am very aware of how special that bond between us is. As I said before, as a gallerist, you really have to take the time to get to know your artists and their work. It’s different for every artist. In many cases, close friendships also result from this. I have a very close friendship with Rinus Van de Velde, for example. We can discuss everything together. We also share a great passion for both art and tennis, so we often travel together to see international tennis matches or exhibitions. Jonathan Meese feels like a long-lost brother to both me and Tom. Also with Ben (Sledsens), Kati (Heck), Dennis (Tyfus), Adrian (Ghenie) and Bram (Demunter): our cooperation feels like a close friendship.”
CREDITS PHOTOS: COURTESY TIM VAN LAERE GALLERY, ANTWERP
WHICH ARTIST IN RECENT HISTORY WOULD YOU HAVE LOVED TO
REPRESENT?
“James Ensor, if he would still be alive, I’m sure he would have worked with our gallery.”
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PLACING OF A WORK OF ART? CAN YOU
INFLUENCE OR CONTROL THIS PROCESS AS A GALLERY OWNER?
“Where a particular work will be hung and/or displayed is of crucial importance for both the artist and the gallery owner. As an artist gallery, I therefore see it as one of our main tasks that we ensure that each work of art is shown in the most optimal conditions. It is therefore extremely important that we feel and understand the work of each artist well. We bear a great responsibility to show the works of an artist to an audience, and we therefore do everything we can to bring the artist’s vision to the outside world. In addition, we also make sure that the works are properly placed. What is very important for us and our artists is that works are included in the collections of museums, institutions and other public private collections. These are important anchor points with which you register yourself as an artist in art history.”
IS ART EVERYWHERE? DO YOU CONSIDER WHAT SERGIO DOES WITH
FOOD AN ART FORM?
“The word art can have different connotations. There are certainly those who describe culinary creations and music as art. I also greatly appreciate their creative process and drive. Both in Sergio and in my brother I recognize many qualities of good artists: they constantly question themselves, explore every possibility to go a step further and want to continuously evolve. I remember when Sergio first visited the gallery during Tal R’s first solo show, I was immediately impressed by his way of looking at the works. I immediately noticed that he thought like an artist, he found an entry point
for each work and then completely dissected it. His feeling for what he saw was instinctive. I suspect that that density also has a lot to do with how he sees himself as someone with a lot of talent, drive, discipline and a great passion. I always have a lot of respect for people who get so far in their own field, and who know how to make that world their own. In addition, he also has a very international vision, something that my artists and I also have in common.”
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT?
“In the spring of 2023 we will host solo exhibitions by Ryan Mosley, Armen Eloyan, and our newest addition: 92-year old artist Inès Van den Kieboom will have her fist solo show in March. In the autumn you can expect exhibitions by Rinus Van de Velde, Adrian Ghenie and Bram Demunter.”
TIM VAN LAERE GALLERY
Jos Smolderenstraat 50, 2000 Antwerpen www.timvanlaeregallery.com
THE TAL R ‘FOREST IN MY EYEBROW’ EXHIBITION WILL BE ON FOR
ANOTHER WEEK. HOW’S THAT GOING?
“Tal R is the number 1 artist in Scandinavia. So we are delighted that this is his second solo exhibition with us. The Forest in My Eyebrow is a very special exhibition by Tal R, it shows a new series of works that arise from a confrontation between the artist and an opening in the forest, created by felled trees. The opening, which strangely took the shape of an eye, prompted the artist to make a series of drawings, which he later transformed in his studio into colored drawings on paper, woodcuts and large-format paintings. In addition to these works, Tal also presents a new bronze sculpture in the outdoor patio of the gallery. It is a project he has been working on for two years and is now showing for the first time in Antwerp. We received a lot of positive reactions and a lot of artists are also very enthusiastic about Tal R’s exhibition.”
THE PLAYLIST BY TIM VAN LAERE
Listen on Spotify. Link in colofon
