22 Oct 2011

BLOOOM - the creative industries art show

BLOOOM – the creative industries art show. Blossoming for the second time

From October 29 to November 1, 2011, the world of visual arts will once again enter into a dialogue with the areas of design, music, fashion, literature, film, broadcasting, architecture, advertising, software and gaming. Instead of succumbing to competitive pressure, the younger generation of cultural aficionados and creative professionals has decided to build a network. This dynamic is what created BLOOOM in 2010, as the world's first interdisciplinary trade fair for artists from the creative industry.

Integrated into the ART.FAIR Ι Fair for modern and contemporary art, BLOOOM will once again open its doors at the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Cologne. A particular highlight of BLOOOM is the granting of the BLOOOM Award by WARSTEINER, which accepts submissions from artists and creative professionals 18 and older, using the piece and medium of their choice. With an additional honor for the 'Dutch Winner,' this year's award is extended beyond Germany's borders. The finalists' pieces will also be presented in a special exhibition that is integrated into the trade fair.

This year, too, visitors can expect a wide variety of inspiring ideas and unique gallery concepts well beyond any hermetic art scene. We would like to introduce you to a few of the participants in advance.

Shop Around was established in 1998 as a Dutch rep agency - mainly representing illustrators and graphic designers - Shop Around developed over the years into a creative production agency that specializes in contemporary illustration, graphic design, animation, motion graphics and interactive design.

Shop Around has branches in both Amsterdam and Rotterdam and holds a representation in New York. From there they co-ordinate all their projects and hold strong contacts with their network of about 80 freelancers. They are continuously on the lookout for up-and-coming talent to foster. And strive to bring new artists to market. Their aim is to give a broad overview of 'what is happening' to advertising agencies, publishers, TV companies, record companies and direct accounts (companies not working with advertising agencies). They pride themselves in being able to offer unparalleled expertise and experience managing complex briefs and tight deadlines for their clients.

Shop around also initiated its own art-label: Popjugend. Under this monicker they organize exhibitions and launch projects and products, all showing the diversity and quality of the crossover between day-to-day design & illustration vs. art.

Besides galleries and organizations from the creative sector, artists can exhibit their works autonomously. One of them is Dennis McNett. In his 18 year-long phase of creativity he has been influenced by the 80´s skateboarding and Punk-Rock scene of New York. In his artworks you can often see dragons and other creatures with a detailed ornamentation. Graphics, sculptures, larger than life sculptures and masks are usual for his amazing Artworks. But even flash-mobs and huge happenings are part of his art. Dennis McNett has been known among other things like his unique snowboards, which he designed for the manufacturer NITRO.

Besides working for the company VANS, he recently designed a movie-like window display for Barneys. With a huge and super detailed Viking-dragon-parade-ship made in the typical DENNIS MCNETT style, he was an absolutely great eye-catcher at this years Chelsea parade in NYC.

Another highlight is Daan Roosegaarde from the Netherlands.
His interactive installations that focus on the relationship between space, people and technology have been featured at the Tate Modern, the national museum in Tokyo, the Victoria Albert Museum in London and he won the prestigious Dutch Design Award.

His latest work 'FLOW 5.0' a wall featuring hundreds of ventilators will be shown at BLOOOM. It invites the viewer to be a part of the installation and make it move and create an artificial air movement that will be visible in different emerging patterns on the wall.

William Robbins, represented by Yasha Young Gallery participates for the second time. The year before he was one of the exhibitors presenting his own works under the name Elmer Presslee. The work he had shown, a giant mask-like head, became legendary in Cologne and was even part of several TV productions.