Ever since returning from abroad, I’ve watched the Dutch art scene grow into something genuinely rich, with a large choice, wonderful creators, and passionate artists and gallery owners. KunstRAI is one of those events where all of that comes together: a place where you run into people and share enthusiasm freely with them. So I went twice, and thoroughly enjoyed first and foremost the photography on show but also the rest of the art exhibited. My first stop, naturally, was Roy Kahmann and his Hungry Eye Group, stylish and beautifully put together, as expected. Wandering further, I came across an old acquaintance, Marcel Heijnen. We fell easily into reminiscing about our overlapping time in Singapore before moving on to the evolution of his more recent work in Hong Kong. I also got to speak with Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, whom I’d first seen at Unseen 2023, who continues to document Hong Kong’s rooftops and their occasional inhabitants with quiet persistence. Rounding out an unexpected Hong Kong thread, the remarkable Fan Ho was widely and beautifully represented by Blue Lotus Gallery. To close the visit, I came across new work by Annabel Oosteweeghel and Frank Visser, as well as by Lenny Oosterwijk, both of which left a strong impression on me.
