LLEI D'ART 10

Q: The restructuring of the mu- seum is receiving favourable press coverage in all aspects. The change has been spec- tacular: living from the past but not in the past. Do you feel completely satisfied with the results? A: I am more than happy with the results, and I am not just saying this because I am the director! Joking aside, the Rijksmuseum has experienced the most exciting transforma- tion in its history. Everything has changed and everything is new, we have created a museum of the 21st century without losing touch with the 19th century history of this spectacular building. Not only a new presentation of the col- lection, a new Asian pavilion, a new educational centre but also a new café and shop. Q: The internal architecture of the new building reorders the col- lections and compacts them spatially, although the museum’s iconic image, Rembrandt’s Night Watch is still in its original place. What order does the cur- rent museographic architecture follow? A: We are showing 800 years of Dutch art and history with 8.000 objects in 80 galleries. We are the first museum in the world that presents its collection in this way: paintings, decorative arts, furni- ture, photographs, prints and drawings all ‘mixed’ together in a chronological way, starting in the Dutch Middle Ages (1200) and ending around the year 2000. Q: You are someone with great knowl- edge about the architectural design of historic buildings. What would you say has been your own personal contribu- tion to this important restructuring? A: The brilliant plan to restructure the presentation in a chronological way came from my predecessor, Ronald de Leeuw, and I did not change that. My pride and joy is the new educational centre, called the Drawing School. It is our ambition to bring all Dutch children aged 11 or 12 to the Rijksmuseum and to bring them into contact with our fabulous collection. Q: In a few words, how would you de- fine the new Rijksmuseum? A: Old Masters for a 21st century pub- lic! The Rijksmuseum is an exciting, happening place in which the collec- tion takes centre stage but where the modern visitor feels welcome from the moment he or she enters our grand building. Q: What do you think is the current con- cept of beauty in art? A: Concepts of beauty have been the same through eternity I think: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Q: What advice would you give to any current and talented artist? A: Keep calm and carry on! Q: As is the case with nearly all the great museums, first-time visitors to the Rijksmuseum are attracted by the great figures of the Golden Age, but a totally re-invented museum as in this case also intends to give a home to modern art collections –is this true? Q: Indeed it is, we are showing Dutch art and history of the 20th century for the very first time and have acquired some amazing pieces like a very rare white Rietveld chair and even a real aeroplane from 1918. We will continue to strive to show the best of Dutch art and history from the 20th century. Q: Tell us about the magnifi- cent garden that encircles the building and its relevant role as a stage on which the majestic building stands. Is it part of a kind of multi-sensory experience for the visitor? A: Ah, I am most proud of our renovated garden which we consider a new outdoor room, filled with beautiful statues, ponds, a fountain and a green- house in which we will grow ‘forgotten vegetables’. Every year for the coming 5 years we will also organize an interna- tional sculpture exhibition in the garden, starting this June with Henry Moore. Q: In Spain we say that Seville has duende*, an expression that tries to transmit the difficult-to-explain magical quality. Is there any of this An- dalusian duende in the work carried out by the Seville architects Cruz and Ortiz? A: Certainly! They have created amongst others a truly wonderful en- trance area with the new Atrium, clad in Portuguese limestone. The modern, light and spacious Atrium matches the old building perfectly while adding a grand new space for the expected 1.7 million visitors this year. Q: How would you seduce our readers into feeling the need to visit the new Rijksmuseum? They are reading the answer to ques- tion 10 now and I hope that I have been able to seduce them during the last 9 questions! As I’ve said: in the new Ri- jksmuseum everything is really new, you will not recognize it from the past, save for one object which has returned to its original place: the Nightwatch. The Ri- jksmuseum was built around this icon, so its place at the end of the Gallery of Honour is the best spot imaginable. Come see for yourself and experience the new Rijksmuseum! * Charm, charisma, magic, enchanting Foto Vincent Menzel 40