Dream Amsterdam 2008:
Ryoji Ikeda announced as Dream Amsterdam 2008 artist
6 – 21 June
A co-production by Dream Amsterdam and Forma Arts and Media
www.dreamamsterdam.nl
After Spencer Tunick in 2007, the renowned composer and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda (Japan 1966) will create art projects for DREAM AMSTERDAM. Ikeda’s hypnotic work plays with human perception through installations, performances, live concerts, recordings and album releases. His work has been exhibited and presented worldwide, including Tate Modern / Queen Elizabeth Hall (London) and Centre Pompidou / Museum of Modern Art (Paris). He has won important prizes, including the Ars Electronica Golden Nica (2001). Ikeda’s commission for Dream Amsterdam Foundation presents his first large-scale artworks for public spaces and marks a new direction in his artistic career.
DREAM AMSTERDAM 2008 is realized in collaboration with UK arts production company Forma and takes place within the frame of the Holland Festival. The OPENING EVENT on June 6, is realized in collaboration with Paradiso. Forma represents Ryoji Ikeda worldwide to produce and tour his work.
The dream of Ryoji Ikeda
For DREAM AMSTERDAM 2008, Ikeda will use pure light as the material for his interventions in various secret locations across Amsterdam. Intensely bright light installations will appear mysteriously, connecting a constellation of points across the cityscape. The energy used for the light installations is generated from sustainable, recycled resources. The site-specific art projects can be viewed from June 6 until June 21, 2008 in the evening hours. A detailed map with the locations and a route can be found from June 6 at www.dreamamsterdam.nl
DREAM AMSTERDAM HIGHLIGHTS
OPENING EVENT Friday June 6
The DREAM AMSTERDAM 2008 – OPENING EVENT is on Friday, June 6 in Paradiso from 20:30 pm with a special live concert and performance by Ryoji Ikeda and an amazing line up of other international guest artists and dj’s. Tickets for the whole programme are on sale through Paradiso and Ticketservice from March 15.
SILENT NIGHT Saturday June 7
On June 7, the SILENT NIGHT event presents a unique opportunity to experience the city as never before: Amsterdam switches off her lights. The darkness maximizes the contrast with the bright light of Ikeda’s installations spread over the city. Ryoji Ikeda and Dream Amsterdam Foundation invite residents of Amsterdam and visitors to actively participate in the SILENT NIGHT event and help contribute to the realization of Ikeda’s Dream, promising to deliver an extraordinary transformation of the city of Amsterdam for one night only.
For participation in the SILENT NIGHT event, please sign up at: www.dreamamsterdam.nl
OPEN-AIR EVENT Saturday June 21
On midsummer’s night, June 21, Dream Amsterdam Foundation organizes a free open-air event at the site of one of the installations. Here, the audience can be part of a powerful new audio work by Ikeda, which will involve the participation of individual listeners.
Notification and info
For notification of the secret locations and more information on DREAM AMSTERDAM 2008, watch the website www.dreamamsterdam.nl closely!
DREAM AMSTERDAM 2008 is made possible by, amongst others, the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts Design and Architecture, Amsterdam Partners – I Amsterdam
and Philips.
NOTES TO EDITORS
DREAM AMSTERDAM is organized by Dream Amsterdam Foundation. The manifestation is an initiative and concept of director and curator Jamain Brigitha. DREAM AMSTERDAM annually gives to an internationally acclaimed contemporary visual artist the opportunity to use Amsterdam as a source of inspiration, studio, material, décor and exhibition space.
FORMA is one of Europe’s leading production agencies for high quality, interdisciplinary contemporary art. Collaborating with some of today’s most interesting artists, it produces, tours and publishes groundbreaking new projects that seamlessly combine diverse media. Forma is supported by Arts Council England
For more press information and/or images, please contact:
Forma | Hannah Barnes | e: hb@forma.org.uk
Dream Amsterdam Foundation | e: press@dreamamsterdam.nl
Paul Verstraeten Communicatie | T +31 (0)20 6762814 | info@paulverstraeten.com
