EXHIBITIONS
NDSM FUSE | Amsterdam – April 5th to October 6th, 2024
Caroline exhibits Fly to Me, my Enemy
In her new work Fly to Me, my Enemy, Caroline Kampfraath researches the impact of major historical events on next generations, if the persons who have experienced that history aren’t there anymore.
The crane birds in Japan symbolise happiness and a long life, for the artist they represent the war traumas of her family, induced by their stay in Japanese internment camps in Indonesia during world war two. Enemies of the past are the friends of the future; crane birds will continue to be folded.
INVITATION TO THE GRAND OPENING 5 April
You are cordially invited to the grand opening of NIEUW NEW BABYLON on April 5 at NDSM FUSE, NDSM-Plein 29, Amsterdam, at 17:00.
PROGRAMME APRIL 5, 17 HRS
Introduction – Jolanda Lanslots
Speech – Ellen Klijzing
Performance – Maud Oonk
Music – De Zingende Dokters
ON THE EXHIBITION “NIEUW NEW BABYLON”
Curator Ellen Klijzing writes as follows – “Amid the global conflicts with associated refugee flows and the climate crisis hitting faster and more devastatingly than predicted, there are also bright spots that give hope and confidence in a better future. Young people are actively working to expose abuses, even taking legal action against big companies and countries… read more
On NDSM FUSE
Experiencing and viewing art and culture increases empathy with other cultures and people. NDSM FUSE focuses on this connecting power by bringing different disciplines together. NDSM FUSE combines exhibitions by artists from the NDSM hangar with theatre performances, events and initiatives by artists from outside. With its diverse programme, NDSM FUSE invites visitors to dive into the inspiring world of fine arts.
The entrance to the gallery and the spacious NDSM Fuse exhibition room.
Studio Kura | Itoshima, Japan – Art Residency & solo exhibition 2024
Caroline has been accepted into a residency programme at Studio Kura in Itoshima, near Fukuoka, Japan. She will develop work for a solo exhibition October 26th-28th, 2024.
Al-Tiba9 art gallery | Barcelona – November 24th 2023 to January 6th, 2024
After 10 years of its Al-Tiba9 online magazine with sculpture, architecture, fashion and more, in the fall of 2023, the Al-Tiba9 contemporary art gallery saw the light in Barcelona. In an exhibition curated by Mohamed Benhadj, Caroline’s A Day in the Woods is amongst the first works shown in the gallery at Calle Comerç 11, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
Art Dubai | Dubai – March 29th to April 3rd, 2021
Link here to the offical Art Dubai website
Art Dubai runs March 29 to April 3rd, 2021. It represents over 50 world-reknown galleries. Art Dubai hosts a wealth of international artists. Works of Caroline will be represented by the Museum of the Americas under auspices of dr Raul Manuel Oyuela.
Under my Skin | Frauenmuseum | Bonn, Germany – 18-2-2018 until 16-9-2018
Are friends the new family?
In her work Under My Skin, sculptor Caroline Kampfraath connects contemporary cultural phenomena and friendships between women with their social position. The basic idea is that friendship ties replace family ties.
Under My Skin – official video
Footprints of a friendship
A new, stronger position for women in society
The friendship between women is freeing itself from its traditionally confined position: family ties, religion and male sexual behaviour have kept women submissive or invisible. Historically, women were defined by their family contexts or the status of their husbands. Where men have met outside of the house for centuries, women worldwide can now be inspired by other women via social media. Women now find each other on the basis of their shared interests, not because of their familial or marital context. Through mutual contact and friendships women may now be better able to define their own identities. These friendships – and in their wake, women’s networks – provide the basis for a new, stronger position for women in society.
Under my Skin – Parchment, sand – 4 x 7 x 3 m
Poem by Anaïs Nin (detail)
Footprints of friendship
For Under My Skin, Caroline used parchment, the primordial carrier of communication. Parchment holds our DNA, the oldest phenomenon that strongly defines one’s identity. Many a human skin nowadays holds tattoos as a way of depicting identity. Caroline’s tattoos refer to societal phenomena that facilitate or threaten female friendship. The sand under the dresses represents time, in which friendships leave their footprints. The poem by Anaïs Nin at the rear of the dresses symbolises the strength and the poetry that come with friendship; the beauty of the unspoken.
At the exhibition “Freundinnen” at the Frauenmuseum Bonn, Germany, Emma Evelein and Jori Meijer perform the opening of the work Under my Skin
The oldest profession in 125 languages
The Trees Weep upon Us, We’ll be Fossils by Then | Biennale | Venice, Italy – 2017
The Trees Weep upon Us, We’ll be Fossils by Then was specifically created for the Venice Biennale and shown in Palazzo Mora during the Biennale 2017 exhibition Personal Structures. The artwork refers to self-destruction by arrogant disregard of our natural environment.
Please click Venice Biennale 2017 for more photos and information on the work.
The Seamstress | Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2017
The Seamstress is a commission by inhabitants of the centre of Amsterdam and comemmorates the radical transition of an Amsterdam city centre street.
Please click The Seamstress for more photos and background of the work.
Contemporary Art Ruhr | Essen, Germany 2016
Caroline Kampfraath participated at the Contemporary Art Ruhr for the Marziart International Art Gallery Hamburg.
Exhibition “The Female Orgasm” | Miet Air | Beers, The Netherlands – 2016
For “Female Orgasm” Caroline Kampfraath created a specific work, shown at Miet Air, Artists in Residence, Beers, The Netherlands.
Hysteria refers to the way people would view the female orgasm in the past. Ultimate excitement was only accepted as ultimate devotion to the divine, like shown by Bernini. In later periods it became a medicale disease that required treatment. The female orgasm had to be treated, denied and avoided. Like the sound of the glass harmonia – the sound Mozart used in his compositions – was banned because it would provoke lust.
THE MUSIC
The sound of the glass harmonica, on its own or as accompaniment. After a popular start in the 18th century, the instrument was banned for 200 years because it was suspected to provoke lust. The four fragments represent the four stereotypes of women: mysterious, innocent, sensitive, sereen and emotional.
Mysterious: Glare (2012). By Camille Norment (1970).
Innocent: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (1892), Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). By William Zeitler (1954).
Sensible, sereen: Adagio für Glasharmonica (1791), W.A. Mozart (1756-1791). By Christa Schönfeldinger (1965).
HYSTERIA | 173 x 60 x 110 cm | Unbaked clay, synthetic resin, examination table
Dutch Society of Sculptors | The Hague 2015
Caroline showed Soldiers and Lovers, about the questions we have on our origin.
SOLDIERS AND LOVERS | 160 x 100 x 50 cm | Cast stone
Contemporary Art Ruhr | Essen 2014
Caroline Kampfraath participated at the Contemporary Art Ruhr for the Marziart International Art Gallery Hamburg.
For the 2014 CAR exhibition, Caroline developed Nature II with a novel technique with artificial resin.
NATURE II | 55 x 35 x 30 cm | Polyesther, colourant
Galerie Artlantis | Frankfurt 2013
INESCAPABLE | 700 x 350 x 155 cm | Porcelain plaster, flax
