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Singing her praises TEXT: MATT ANTONIAK | PHOTO: COURTESY OF KRAUPA TUSKANY ZEIDLER
Throughout 2016, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam will present Stedelijk Contemporaries, a showing of seven young artists whose works the museum have recently acquired. The youngest of these seven is the prodigiously talented American artist Avery Singer, who creates sensational monochromatic paintings and installations.
Singer’s work is instantly recognisable. Zig-zaggy, geometric characters roam her canvases, and swathes of light and shadow create a cinematic aesthetic. In that regard they are reminiscent of young Belgian artist Rinus Van de Velde’s charcoal drawings – but Singer’s works are not autobiographical like Van de Velde’s, and nor are they charcoal. In fact, they are the result of a labour-in-
tensive method, which begins with a preliminary drawing on the 3D modelling software Google SketchUp (how very 2016). From here, the drawing is mapped onto canvas, and then the painstaking process of masking and spraying paint begins. At a glance, her canvases share a visual identity with that of the Vorticist or Cubist movement from the early part of the 20th century. But the trompe l’oeil effect of her spray paint and the subtle but pervading sarcasm that runs through her pieces, root her work very much within the present day. Indeed, a great deal of her work references and pokes fun and the art world in which she inhabits. Exhibitions, studio visits and preview parties all come under Singer’s gentle attack. She is a force to be reckoned with, and not one to be missed. Avery Singer: Scenes is on show
at the Stedelijk Museum as part of Stedelijk Contemporaries from 23 April until 2 October 2016.
Matt Antoniak is a visual artist and writer living and working in Newcastle, UK. He works mainly in painting and drawing and is a founding member of the art collective M I L K.
Beer of the Month: Carrie IPA TEXT: STUART FORSTER | PHOTO: STUART FORSTER
Carrie is a strong IPA brewed in Rotterdam at premises across the Rijnhaven dock from the Hotel New York, the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, whose ships were used by thousands to emigrate from Europe. Some might see the location of the Kaapse Brouwers vats as ironic, others as fitting. After all, the brewery is essentially playing a leading role in importing the craft beer revolution - a movement that started in the USA - to the Netherlands’ second city. This particular ale is dark amber in colour but, depending on the pour, yeast within the bottle can give it a cloudy appearance. It has a malty aroma with fruity undertones. As you would expect from an India Pale Ale, the flavour is laced with hoppy bitterness and reveals a citrusy back note. The ingredients list water and, surprisingly, pils. 110 | Issue 29 | May 2016
Caramel malts provide a hint of sweetness to balance out Carrie’s bitterness. The brewers make use of Chinook, Amarillo, Cascade and Simcoe hops in this complex brew. The result is a beer that some people interpret as having red fruit undertones while others taste elements of kiwi and exotic fruits. The Kaapse Brouwers micro-brewery is based within the hip Fenix Food Factory in the up-and-coming Katendrecht district of the city. Carrie is sold in 330-millilitre bottles in stores across Rotterdam and beyond. It is also available at the brewpub, where tastings are held. They feature at least six beers plus snacks, and include an overview of how the brewery goes about producing its ales. Brewer: Kaapse Brouwers Strength: 6.5 per cent
Stuart Forster was twice named Journalist of the Year at the 2015 and 2016 Holland Press Awards. Five generations of his family have been actively involved in the brewing industry.