Exhibition design and curation of photographer Jimmy Nelson's traveling exhibition "Ode Aan Nederland" Ode to the Netherlands in which he showcases his work of surviving Dutch cultural heritage. It is touring four museums, featuring 20 artworks gifted to participating communities.
The first of four exhibitions started in the museum "Het Warenhuis" in Axel, in the South of the Netherlands.
The third destination of the traveling exhibition is the Museum Dokkum in the North of the Netherlands.
COMING SOON
The final destination of the "Ode aan Nederland" exhibition tour will be the Zaans Museum, opening in fall 2024.
Jimmy Nelson is celebrated for his powerful photography that captures and honors the cultural heritage of communities worldwide. His work is dedicated to showcasing diverse traditions through evocative imagery.
The challenge was to create an exhibition showcasing Jimmy Nelson’s photography of Dutch cultural heritage in smaller, non-photography museums. These "Klederdracht" museums, often underfunded and unfamiliar with photography exhibits, needed a compelling presentation to attract visitors and support their operations.
Under the umbrella of the Jimmy Nelson Foundation, I designed and curated “Ode aan Nederland,” a touring exhibition featuring works from "Between the Sea and the Sky," Nelson’s 500-page coffee table book celebrating Dutch cultural heritage.The exhibition highlighted the elegance of the Dutch traditional dress, "Klederdracht," through iconic group photos and landscapes of the Netherlands. As part of the exhibition, we created an engaging game for children to explore Dutch cultural heritage. Despite the constraints of smaller venues, we successfully exceeded expected visitor numbers through compelling exhibition design and social media campaigns. The project significantly boosted these smaller museums,e.g. supporting Muzee Scheveningen in securing substantial funding for renovations due to the exhibition's success.
The exhibition aimed to celebrate Dutch cultural heritage and align with Jimmy Nelson Studio’s philosophy of expanding art access and deepening the understanding of shared humanity. By presenting the artwork in smaller, underdog museums, we honored cultural traditions and supported these vital institutions, boosting their visibility and securing essential funding. To close the circle of giving back, 20 artworks will be donated to each of the 20 participating communities at the final venue, reinforcing our commitment to the communities that inspired the project.
Credits:
Jimmy Nelson Studio
Artist
Jimmy Nelson
Art Direction & Curation
Larissa Rosvaenge
CEO JN Studio
Souraya Saraff
Project Coordination
Stephanie van der Wiel
PR & Social Media
Coco Box
Museum Het Warenhuis
Director & Curator
Drs P.E. de Blaeij
Muzee Scheveningen
Bram Hoogendijk
Edwin van der Kooij
Madelène Donkerwolke
Tamara Peers
Tirza Koopmans
Studio Hands On
Graphic Production Jos Engelbert
Museum Dokkum
Museum Dokkum
Director & Curator
Hans Groeneweg
PR & Communicatie
Myrthe Westra
Zaans Museum
Head of Museum Affairs
Martine Verstraete
Production Manager
Helma Peters
Exhibition Designer
Juliet Harrison
Art Handlers
Kortmann Art Packers & Shippers B.V.