In 2019, artist Tinus Derks died unexpectedly. He lived and worked almost all his life in Helmond, except for his studies at St. Joost in Den Bosch. His desire to provide a place To the work of anyone who feels like an artist, has recently been fulfilled. His brother, sister and two very good friends founded "The Lover's House.
Those good friends are Julienne Tullemans, curator at Cacaofabriek Expo, and Ine van de Ven, artist and culture coordinator in nearby Son en Breugel. When I speak to them, they tell me that what happens in Helmond in terms of contemporary visual art is almost always initiatives by artists themselves. There has been a large group of artists active since the 1980s, including Tinus Derks. This group, then in their thirties, is still making plans today. In Helmond, that is dé way to achieve visual art offerings, there are hardly any other opportunities to show work.
provide a place for the work of anyone who feels like an artist
A good example is the Cacaofabriek. In 1993, the then Stichting Beeldende Kunstenaars Kring Helmond moved into the former factory and createdëered work and exhibition spaces there. That grew into The Dutch Cacaofactory Foundation in 2000, a breeding ground for young artists from all over the Netherlands. In 2008, a major fire destroyed studio spaces and works of art. The building was then renovated. In 2013, Cultural Center De Cacaofabriek was opened, a municipally subsidized institution with a pop stage, cinema, exhibition space and a brasserie. Cacao Expo is now a presentation institution that provides space and opportunity for the development and growth of professional visual artists. The exhibition program is diverse: from young, newly graduated artists to experienced leading artists, in all media. Tullemans is responsible for exhibition policy. She is part of that large group of active artists. They are almost always there at openings. Together they still feel responsible for what happens in the field of visual art in Helmond.
Derks was an ideaënartist and averse to the so-called established order
This proactive way of working together and the high degree of collegiality, was right up Tinus Derks' alley. Always willing to think along with a befriended artist. At an opening, lecture or debate, Derks was always there. His own artistry was at times a struggle. He never thought his art was finished, even when he worked on commission. He kept adding and removing objects, drawings or paintings. Or he asked for and added contributions from other artists. Derks was an ideaën artist and averse to the so-called established order. Tullemans and Van de Ven relate that his work was qualitatively good enough for that so-called established order but that it did not suit him characterologically. He lived and worked completely autonomously. His freedom to make art or not was paramount to him. That he was regularly short of money he took for granted. Derks also went out a lot. He walked for hours through Helmond and visited the studios of friends.
After his death, in 2020 under the title 'The Lover's House created an exhibition at Cocoa Expo about his life and work. The title refers to the plan he was working on: a house in the city where people practicing an art form could show their work. In fact, Derks was vehemently opposed to the phenomenon of balloting. The exhibition at De Cacaofabriek was a posthumous first step. Family and friends followed it up. 't Huis is there now. For now they are in a building on the Watermolenwal, but they know they can't stay there for long. That doesn't matter, 't Huis is also fine to develop further as a pop-up spot. In fact, that fits the plan very well. After all, Derks also enjoyed wandering the city. As an artist, he committed himself to nothing except Helmond. Coincidentally, the plan fits well with the municipality's desire to liven up the city center. There is a lot of vacancy and that affects how the public space is experienced. A place where the public is naturally drawn to is therefore very welcome. The municipality supports the incubator financially.
A place where audiences are naturally drawn to is most welcome
Last September 15, 't Huis opened to the public and, as always, it was packed. Friends and family én those casual passersby that Derks was so eager to reach were there. Anyone wishing to exhibit could apply to the organization. However, there are already so many applications, Tullemans and Van de Ven say, that it is impossible to have everyone actually exhibit. Tinus, how do we solve this? they have wondered several times. Theory clashes with practice but they don't worry. They stick to the plan not to ballot and make do with the opportunities that wél are. That's how they've been doing it in Helmond since the 1980s, and that's how it will stay for now.
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