4i agency

Concept, edition 3 + 1 AE

A main way for art to exist in contemporary life is in investigating into new roles of its inherent economy.
Capitalism engages ideas of value, encourages virtual ways of escalating numbers for real living. Economy is, more than ever, related to flux, concept, idea, and abstraction.
Let’s forget about modernist limitations in the art market in terms of what sells and what doesn’t, how and for how much! This is a sincere proposition by a couple of conceptual artists, framed for the Dutch art system.

For artists who do conceptual, research based, flux, text and/ or performance art, or any of the practices that have historically been labelled ‘difficult to sell’, the Netherlands is a magnet. And here we meet with the outstanding works produced. They are the capital on which this concept is based.

Intercultural
International
Informative
Intellectual
4i

As a group of International Dutch-based artists and art professionals frustrated by both the local lack of commercial opportunities and by the community based focus on ‘multicultural’ public subsidies and commissions, we are seeking to create a flexible, mobile office that promotes the work of Dutch-based artists and, in so doing, creates an international, professional and commercial network.

Agency

The agency takes the form of a mobile, lightweight, non-bureaucratic office, located in the Groothandelsgebouw Rotterdam.

…………….. – 4i agent I
A full time post: researcher and manager

……………. – 4i agent II
A half-time post: curator and public relations

………….. – 4i agent III
A half-time post: writer and cultural matchmaker

………….. – 4i agent IV
A full-time post: gallerist and economist

Artists*
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Advisors*
… director of Townhouse Gallery Cairo (confirmed)
… head of exhibitions Museum Boijmans van Beuningen (confirmed)
… director of Homeworks Beirut (confirmed)
… artist based in Amsterdam (confirmed)
… gallerist, London (confirmed)
… gallerist Warsaw (confirmed)
… director Art Gallery Bahrein (confirmed)
… curator Centre for Contemporary Arts Shanghai (confirmed)
… director of IASPIS Stockholm (confirmed)
… director of ISCP New York (confirmed)
… curator Gamec Italy (confirmed)
… artist based in Moscow and Berlin (confirmed)
… free lance curator and writer based in Moscow (confirmed)
… director of Van Abbe Museum Eindhoven (confirmed)
… writer and free lance curator Berlin (confirmed)
… gallerist Mexico city (confirmed)
To be completed
To be in flux
Composed by the selected artists’ network, in dialogue via e-mail and meetings during large-scale art events and art fairs, where the travelling is already iherent in each advisors’ profession.

Aims

1. INTERCULTURAL
4i agency focuses primarily on the distinction between the notion of the ‘multicultural’ and of the ‘intercultural’. Our intercultural focus means improving the international and local exchange of knowledge about art and the interconnection between different art networks. From this perspective, Rotterdam – the city chosen as the venue for our activities - represents one of the most interesting European examples of a hub for people with different cultural heritages. This variety is not only due to an international migration flow of people but, in particular, to the aggregation of artists and cultural practitioners/ promoters from all over the world.

2. INTERNATIONAL
Our intent is to help Dutch-based artists to see beyond the Dutch situation, to escape the potential ‘trap’ of the subsidy system by giving their work a place in the International art market. In particular, by connecting artists, institutions, writers, collectors and cultural producers we will base our promotional activity on creating symbiotic links between different art-economical situations around the world. This important exchange activity will trigger the production of a new reference culture (on a local and international level). The activities we have planned include: hosting international visitors; collaborating with art spaces all over the world, exchanging portfolios; developing cross-cultural projects, and facilitating fluidity and mini-migrations of contemporary artistic practice.

3. INFORMATIVE
Our role is also to provide information about Dutch artists and make them more visible outside of The Netherlands, by means of promotional events and campaigns scheduled to take place during international art fairs (Basel, London, New York, Berlin, Miami Beach) and large scale art events (Biennials). To this end, we will also create a network among both Dutch and international museums and institutes, maintaining regular contact with the national and international press, and with art professionals: critics, curators, galleries and collectors.

4. INTELLECTUAL
4i agency publishes twice a semi-annual magazine detailing the artists’ new works, including texts by 4i agents, advisors, artists and friends. The magazine is distributed via the web and at the 4i agency office, at selected bookshops in The Netherlands and abroad and is handed out at art venues.

Concept by Susanne Kriemann and Aleksander Komarov

This has been elaborated, discussed, reformulated and transformed in active exchange of ideas with Lonnie van Brummelen and Siebren de Haan, Wendelien van Olderbourgh, Lisbeth Bik and Joos van der Pol, Melvin Moti, Lucia Babina, Zoe Gray, Annick Kleizen, Martijn Verhoeven, William Wells, Anke Bangma, Hilde de Bruijn, Rein Wolfs, Folkert de Jong, Christine Thome, Bernie Dekens, Mariska van den Berg, Sophie van Olfers, Donatello D’Osti, Bart de Baers and Renske Jansen.