{"id":69686,"date":"2017-04-14T14:26:27","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T12:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=69686\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:41","slug":"duo-of-dutch-artists-create-eye-popping-exhibition-in-the-erasmus-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/04\/14\/duo-of-dutch-artists-create-eye-popping-exhibition-in-the-erasmus-gallery\/","title":{"rendered":"Duo of Dutch artists create eye-popping exhibition in the Erasmus Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A student takes a moment to behold the work of Henri Jacobs and Koen Taselaar.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoshua Kruter<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Erasmus University may not offer a degree that strictly involves the production of art, but that doesn\u2019t stop spectacular art pieces from arriving on campus. On Thursday evening, the Erasmus Gallery played host to the opening of a special exhibition featuring the works of Koen Taselaar and Henri Jacobs, who also has been selected to produce two tapestries that will decorate the walls of the newly renovated library. Inspired by their respective trips to Kolkata, India, the duo curated a unique amalgamation of art defined by their intricate patterns and eye-popping colors.<\/p>\n

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Intricate patterns and colorful chaos is the theme of JA TA TA JA.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoshua Kruter<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

The name of the exhibition, JA TA TA JA, is simply an exotic way of combining the last names of both artists. According to Taselaar, who was raised in Rotterdam, a translator in Kolkata said the name roughly translates to \u2018The Ultimate Freshness.\u201d In that sense, the name is fitting as it is rare to see two artists work in tandem in order to create an exhibition that blends each other\u2019s visions and styles.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Koen and I, it\u2019s been a delight for us to display our work at the University because we\u2019ve had a free hand in designing the exhibition,\u201d Jacobs told EM. \u201cI just hope students take the time to view the pieces while they\u2019re still here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paralyzed<\/h3>

Looking at one of the walls near the back of the gallery, it\u2019s impossible to avoid the visual interplay between the two artists as their pieces superimpose on each other, in a way that leaves the viewer paralyzed, without the ability to recognize which piece belongs to whom. Jacobs describes the interaction of the works as a representation of both \u201cthe dream and the nightmare\u201d that is visiting the city of Kolkata.<\/p>\n

Both artists got to visit the city thanks to the Mondriaan Fund, named after the renowned Piet Mondriaan, whose most famous works were defined by neat black lines that separated three primary colors from blocks of white. \u201cPiet\u2019s work is not like ours, but if he had been to India, his choice of color would have certainly been different,\u201d Jacobs joked.<\/p>\n

For those who weren\u2019t able to make it to this pleasurable night of art and wine, no worries. JA TA TA JA will be on display in the Erasmus Gallery until the 7th<\/sup> of July.<\/p>\n

more art<\/h2>