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Nummer zes, Steinway grand piano, wake me up to go to sleep and all the color of the rainbow
by Guido van der Werve
2006, 17’09”
Original Format: 35mm trasferito in HD
Presented at the 16th edition of Lo schermo dell’arte, 2023
vo: English, Dutch; st: English, Italian
The video revolves around the theme of desire. Sitting at home on a stool at his upright piano, the artist is immersed in his thoughts while a voice-over tells the story of the Steinway & Sons grand piano and how very few pianists have the privilege to play this instrument. Wandering dejectedly through the streets of Amsterdam, he continues to think of the Steinway as he enters a musical instrument shop. In the next scene, a crane hoists the large piano through the window of the narrow room of his apartment. Here an entire chamber orchestra accompanies him in the performance of Chopin’s first piano concerto.
Guido van der Werve (1977, Papendrecht, Netherlands, lives and works between Amsterdam, Berlin, and Hassi) trained at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and in 2006 was resident at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. In 2008 he participated in the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York and in 2011 he was in residence at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. Solo exhibitions include: GRIMM Gallery, Amsterdam (2023); Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam (2022); SongEun Art Space, Seoul (2020); CONDO São Paulo (2019); FuturDome, Milan (2018). His works have been part of group exhibitions at institutions such as Kunsthaus Zurich (2020), CCK Buenos Aires (2017), Kunsthaus Graz (2015), MAXXI Rome (2014), Fondazione Prada (2014), MoMA New York (2013), GAMeC, Bergamo (2013). He has participated in Biennials and international events such as Performa 13 (2013) and Performa 11 (2011), Moscow Biennial (2011), Venice Biennale (2010), Istanbul Biennial (2015), Manifesta 07 (2008). His works are present in the collections of international institutions such as: Fondazione Giuliani, Rome; Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam; MoMA, New York; M Woods Museum, Beijing; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven (NL).
Selected Filmography
2022 Nummer Achttien, the breath of life 2015 Nummer zeventien, killing time attempt 1 from the deepest ocean to the highest mountain; Nummer zestien, the present moment 2012 Nummer veertien, home 2011 Nummer dertien, emotional poverty in three effugium 2009 Nummer twaalf, variations on a theme; the king’s gambit accepted, the number of stars in the sky, and why a piano can’t be tuned, or waiting for an earthwake 2007 Nummer negen, the day I didn’t turn with the world; Nummer acht, everything is going to be alright 2006 Nummer zeven, the clouds are more beautiful from above; Nummer zes, Steinway grand piano, wake me up to go to sleep and all the colour of the rainbow 2005 Nummer vier, I don’t want to get involved in this. I don’t want to be part of this. Talk me out of it 2004 Nummer drie, take step fall 2003 Nummer twee, just because I’m standing here doesn’t mean I want to
2022 Nummer Achttien, the breath of life 2015 Nummer zeventien, killing time attempt 1 from the deepest ocean to the highest mountain; Nummer zestien, the present moment 2012 Nummer veertien, home 2011 Nummer dertien, emotional poverty in three effugium 2009 Nummer twaalf, variations on a theme; the king’s gambit accepted, the number of stars in the sky, and why a piano can’t be tuned, or waiting for an earthwake 2007 Nummer negen, the day I didn’t turn with the world; Nummer acht, everything is going to be alright 2006 Nummer zeven, the clouds are more beautiful from above; Nummer zes, Steinway grand piano, wake me up to go to sleep and all the colour of the rainbow 2005 Nummer vier, I don’t want to get involved in this. I don’t want to be part of this. Talk me out of it 2004 Nummer drie, take step fall 2003 Nummer twee, just because I’m standing here doesn’t mean I want to