News — Oct 23, 2012

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven have joined together to purchase a major photographic work by Israeli-Dutch artist Yael Bartana, 'The Missing Negatives of the Sonnenfeld Collection' (2008) with the generous support of (Contemporary Art Fund) Outset NL. It is the first time the two museums have jointly acquired a work for their collections. 'The Missing Negatives of the Sonnenfeld Collection' were on view this Summer in Bartana’s solo exhibition '…And Europe will be stunned' at the Van Abbemuseum.

'The Missing Negatives of the Sonnenfeld Collection' (2008) uses as its reference one of the largest archives of historical photographic images of 20th-century Israeli history. With the assistance of young Palestinians and Jews currently residing in Israel, Bartana selected photographs originally taken by Leni and Herbert Sonnenfeld, and restaged them in new photographs that represent the idea of the Zionist New Jew. The results reenact images deeply etched in Israeli collective memory and consciousness. Bartana’s photographs reinstate the collection, as well as the narrative fostered by Beit Hatefutsot (Museum of the Jewish People, where the archive is now housed), with the erased story of mixed ethnicity, introducing Palestinians into the establishment of the State. One is unable to identify the religious or ethnic affiliation of the photographed subjects―they are all beautiful farmers, workers and soldiers looking into a future they hope to build together on the ruins of a bloody past.

Charles Esche, director of the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, comments: “I am very grateful for the support and initiative of Outset NL that has made this collective acquisition of an artwork possible. Their support and the Stedelijk Museum's collaboration has enabled the Van Abbemuseum to acquire photographic works by Yael Bartana for the first time. These will be a valuable addition to the film works we have purchased over the past 6 years. I believe this innovative way of acquiring contemporary artworks can also serve as a model for future acquisitions. In these financially difficult times, Dutch museums need to collaborate more at all levels and also to take greater account of their individual contribution to the national ‘Collectie Nederland’. Outset NL has helped us to make an important step in that direction.”

Ann Goldstein, director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, adds: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Van Abbemuseum on this very special and meaningful
addition to our respective institutional collections of Bartana’s work, and most grateful for (Contemporary Art Fund) Outset NL’s support. Joint acquisitions are increasingly an important means for museums around the world to build their collections, and our gratitude goes to Gwen Neumann for initiating this discussion and for her vision to make strategic and significant contributions to the holdings of our Dutch institutions.”

Outset NL initially approached the museums about supporting a joint acquisition: “We are honored to be able to support the acquisition of this beautiful work by Yael Bartana with the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Abbemuseum. It is a unique co-operation between a private fund and two public institutions of contemporary art, from which both public collections will benefit. Yael Bartana's photographic work fits in the collection of both museums, and we are delighted to support such a talented artist through this acquisition in joint ownership,” states Gwen Neumann, director of Outset NL.

Outset

Outset Contemporary Art Fund is a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting new art by bringing private funding from its patrons to public museums and art projects. Founded in the UK in 2003, it now has chapters in Germany, Israel and India. Outset NL was launched in the Netherlands in March 2012. The fund works with leading museums, artists and art professionals in the Netherlands. Outset aims to support the production of ambitious works of art and their subsequent donation to public collections, acquisitions for public collections and exhibition programs. The independent organization seeks to engage with artists at pivotal  moment in their career, working with them to realize ambitious and new  projects within the public realm.

For more information and pictures, please visit: www.vanabbemuseum.nl/pers