As Amsterdam prepares for its annual KunstRAI, a meticulous process unfolds behind the scenes. Before the general public steps foot into the art fair, extensive work is underway to ready the booths of more than one hundred galleries. In a matter of days, the empty hall must transform into a vibrant stage for contemporary art, where visitors can experience a rich diversity of artistic expression.
Selection for a diverse offering
The selection of participating galleries begins months prior to the fair. A selection committee reviews the quality of each application. The committee evaluates not only the artists a gallery wishes to showcase but also the gallery itself. Participants are chosen based on the artistic merit and relevance of their offerings. This ensures that KunstRAI remains varied and dynamic each year, while adhering to a consistently high standard.
Once approved, participants commence their preparations. From conceiving booth designs to selecting artworks, many galleries devote months to curating a presentation that will represent them at the fair.
Construction: from empty hall to art fair
A few days before the official opening, the stand builders take over the exhibition floor. In an empty hall they start installing the walls, lighting and electricity. Each gallery will have a recognizable place, complete with their name on the stand. Although these spaces are standardized at first glance, each gallery offers its own interpretation, which emphasizes their unique style.
The design by participants
With the stands ready, it is the turn of the galleries themselves. The participants place and arrange their works themselves. There is a lot of freedom here: from the layout of the works to the decoration of the space, each gallery chooses a presentation that matches their artistic vision. This diversity of styles and interpretations makes a walk through the KunstRAI a varied experience for the public. Each stand functions, as it were, as a window to the identity of the gallery.
The official start
After the set-up, the fair traditionally opens with an exclusive evening for invited guests. On this evening, the public is introduced to the layout of the fair and the various participants for the first time. In the following days, minor adjustments may be made based on responses from visitors and collectors. This makes the KunstRAI not only a platform for the works of art, but also a dynamic encounter between the work and the people who come to admire it.
A collective effort
Although the KunstRAI only lasts a few days, preparations are months in the making. The combination of gallery owners, stand builders, artists and the organization of the fair ensures a joint result where art and the public come together. The images of the construction, every year, show how much work happens behind the scenes before the fair doors swing open. The KunstRAI is not only about what hangs on the walls, but also about the dedication of all those who work towards it, sometimes for months.