PRESS RELEASE – Vijfhuizen, 21 May 2020  Spring exhibition – Plural Fertilities 14 June until 26 July  Location: Genieloods and Fortress with COVID-19 measurements. Adjusted opening hours: Fri/Sat/Sun – 1-5 pm and by appointment  Please reserve tickets at kunstfort.nl/visit  

Kunstfort 14 June open to public with group showKunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is pleased and grateful to re-open on Sunday, June 14, 2020 with appropriate restrictions. Its isolated location at a nature and heritage site offers the inspiring opportunity for a sunny (cycling) visit and a relaxed exhibition experience.

Group show: Plural FertilitiesTo celebrate the program line “enchantment, healing and fertility”, Kunstfort opens this belated Spring season with the group exhibition Plural Fertilities. In loose, intuitive gestures, artists bring together their dreams and thoughts about alternative forms of parenting, collective rituals of healing, and recognizing ourselves as nature. With: Mehraneh Atashi, Lisa Gliederpuppe, Susanne Kriemann, Mire Lee, Dorine van Meel, Kevin Osepa, Eric Peter, Lot Schröder, Müge Yilmaz. Open 14 June til 26 July 2020. With a performance by Eric Peter on the last day.

Public program and Ideas to Postpone the End of the World On Tuesday, June 2, Kunstfort organises in collaboration with diffrakt, Berlin, an online workshop led by Luiza Prado (Brazil 1988, working in Berlin), whose work engages with material and visual culture through the lenses of decolonial and queer theories. Subject is the book Ideas to Postpone the End of the World by Ailton Krenak (Brazil,1953), environmental and indigenous rights activist and member from the first Krenak peoples in the Brazilian Rio Doce valley. For over 30 years he has dedicated his work to examining questions related to coloniality, indigenous identities, and anti-capitalist struggle. The workshop is part of the Plural Wombs Research Group: initiated by Dorine van Meel (Netherlands, 1984) and public program of Plural Fertilities. The second and third workshops with the Kunstfort will follow in June and July. Online 19:30-21:00. Sign up via pluralwombs@gmail.com.

Selection Kunstfort Kasus 2020: Isabel MarcosIsabel Marcos (Spain 1986, working in Rotterdam and Madrid) has been selected for Kunstfort Kasus 2020, an annual residency program that gives an artist or designer the opportunity to expand their studio work to (the surrounding area of) the Kunstfort for one year. Marcos graduated with a Master from the Dutch Art Institute in Arnhem and is PhD candidate at the UCLM University in Spain. During Kunstfort Kasus 2020, she will research the architecture of the fort and consider objects that mediate our relation with large bodies of water, such as anchors, chains and buoys.

With Liquid Anchors, Isabel will develop a series of site-specific sculptural installations that explore the notion of sinking from a hydrofeminist perspective.

Collaboration De Ateliers: Kunstfort Outside studioKokou Ferdinand Makouvia (Togo,1989), currently participant at the post-academic institution De Ateliers in Amsterdam, will be working and staying on the Kunstfort peninsula for the coming months. Makouvia makes monumental objects with a.o. ceramics. Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen regularly offers guidance and space for projects with institutions located in cities. Summer: solo exhibitions Ann Lislegaard and Sophie LeeIn the Genieloods Ann Lislegaard (Norway 1962, living in Denmark) will show an immersive installation with digital animation. Sophie Lee (GB,1988) is developing a new film for an exhibition in the fortress. Opening planned for Sunday, August 9. Due to the unpredictable COVID-19 situation, dates might be subject to change.

Special visitThe Kunstfort makes adjustments to the routing and ticketing in favor of a safe visit based on the restrictions of RIVM and the protocols of Museumvereniging. While waiting one can visit the peninsula, with among others work by Tom Claassen, Hans van Houwelingen and Rachel de Joode. During this period, the institution is open from Friday until Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm and also by appointment.

Donations and art posters in Corona time: 2020SolidarityProgramming with measurements comes at significant unforeseen expenses. Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is participating in 2020Solidarity, a project by Between Bridges. This Berlin-based foundation initiated by artist Wolfgang Tillmans, gives institutions the special opportunity to offer art works by renown artists as A2 posters for a donation of €50. The 12 works have been selected by Kunstfort director Zippora Elders and Between Bridges. Support the Kunstfort! Examples and information via www.kunstfort.nl. Limited availability: from June 1 to July 12, 2020.

Note for editors For images and information, mail to Lisette@kunstfort.nl Contact person: Lisette Bockwinkel, coördinator press  Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen Fortwachter 1 2144 EE Vijfhuizen Kunstfort.nl Open: Fri til Sun, 1-5 pm and by appointment

Image credits: 1) Dorine van Meel, Phoenix’s Last Song, 20192) Model of an Artificial Reef, 's Lands Werf Amsterdam, 1800. Rijksmuseum Collection.