Page 52 - Studio International - May 1973

between non-Western manifestations of Dibbets, Brouwn, Weiner, Buren, Long and twelve drawings). The Parisian Japanese artist
culture and our contemporary art. Thus there Andre. Part of this collection was on view at the Kudo is represented by about twenty-five works
are, in addition to many prints by Werkman exhibition 'Conceptual Art from two private from various periods, and there is a total of
and works by Cobra artists, a considerable collections' in Utrecht.4 Unfortunately there fourteen works by new realists like Rotella,
number of sculptures by for instance Moore, has for some time now been a lull in their art Raysse, Arman and Christo. The Bechts
Lipchitz, Heerup and Kalinowski, and many buying, but their collection is always handled almost always buy early work, and generally also
works by the Dutch sculptor André Volten.3 with much care, and the Flavin is still regularly more than one piece by an artist. Many young
The younger generation is represented by 'switched on' next to the piece George by artists enjoy their support, and every now and
Peter Hutchinson, Vito Acconci and others. Gilbert and Gilbert by George (1969).5 again they sponsor an event (as in the Sonsbeek
The story of how the Salco Tromp Meesters Like the Van Eelens, Wijnand and Annette manifestation in I97I, with projects by
collection came into existence is very different. Wildenberg in Amstelveen still often buy the Van der Kraan, Hans de Vries and Lex
Having turned up out of the blue in I967, early works of younger artists, and much care is Wechgelaar). They do not bother about what
Tromp Meesters plunged into the Dutch art lavished on the collection. It is varied, and new something 'will be worth one day', they do not
scene, and with money from an inheritance he names are regularly added. Besides a large buy work that they have no affinity with (as they
spent the following three years avidly buying up number of works by Pieter Engels and a good did not purchase work by Manzoni, at the time
the work of young Dutch artists. His strongest collection of sculptures by Theo Niermeijer, very inexpensive and exhibited by Frits Becht
motive appears to have been to spend the whole there is work by new realist followers (Kudo, himself in De Posthoorn in The Hague, where
inheritance on art in the shortest possible time. Raynaud, Christo, Dietman, etc.), important he was involved in planning the exhibition
His collection is an example of how not to go early pieces by Dekkers, beautiful drawings by programme). Characteristic of their collection is
about acquiring works of art. The collection Schoonhoven, work by Gilbert and George, the fact that they have never sold anything, so
(which includes work by Dekkers, Dibbets, Peter Hutchinson, Dennis Oppenheim, that special accommodation had to be built
Brouwn, Schoonhoven, Van Amen, Van Reinier Ruthenbeck, Bill Beckley and Ger van next to their house to store all the pieces
Munster, Van Elk) has recently been moved to Elk. The Wildenbergs arrange and rearrange properly (the 'alarm-hut'). When asked what
the Museum Van Bommel-Van Dam in Venlo. their collection with great discrimination. preferences they have, they say that they are
This museum houses the collection of the same Probably the most extensive private most interested in their latest purchases.
name, in which many Dutch artists are collection in the Netherlands is that of Frits and To name a few recent acquisitions: Van
represented (e.g. Lataster, Heyboer, and the Agnes Becht in Hilversum.° Begun around Munster (video tapes), Van Elk Self-portrait
early Schoonhoven). I955, this collection includes most of the names behind a Wooden Fence, Gilbert and George
De Jong in Hengelo was for many years the already mentioned. A nucleus is formed by the Postcard Sculpture I972. Highlights of their
only owner of a De Kooning in the whole of the work of Westerik: ten paintings, some forty collection are the works of Daan van Golden,
Netherlands just as Herman and Henriëtte van watercolours and drawings, and an almost Joseph Beuys, Carl Andre, Tom Wesselmann,
Eelen in Amsterdam acquired the only work complete set of etchings. There are also large and Jim Dine. They are very fond of their
by Robert Ryman, Orrin (I967), many years ago. collections of work by other Dutch artists : Kienholz pieces, the older Gilbert and George
Their collection, which started with Cobra Peter Struycken (nine early works), Woody van works, and the Panamarenkos. Frits and Agnes
work, includes very good pieces by Lucassen Amen (ten), Axel van der Kraan (fifteen), Becht are among the few art collectors in the
alongside interesting and often early works by Ger van Elk (five), Schoonhoven (two reliefs, Netherlands who own films and video tapes by

9 10 11 12

13 14 16

9 Jim Dine
British Joys (a picture of Mary Quant) 1965
10 Tom Wesselman
Seascape 1966
I1 Co Westerik
Snijden aan gras 1971
I 2 Edward Kienholz
15 Ella Laughs 1962
13 Jan van Munster
Compressed Light 1972
(part of video tape)
14 Joseph Beuys
Diagnoseaxt 1962
15 Martial Raysse
Yellow Rose 1964
16 Panamarenko
The Aeromodeller
234