Exhibition Diagrams & Drawings

Diagrams & Drawings aims to give an impression of ‘the latest developments in the field of the sculptor’s drawing, a speciality of the museum’. While Hammacher introduced the concept of the ‘sculptor’s drawing’ in 1959, Oxenaar now poses the question: ‘Are these still drawings and were they made by sculptors?’ Dan Flavin uses an alternative term, which is ultimately used for the title of the exhibition.

The museum presents drawings by 13 American artists: Carl Andre, Christo, Walter De Maria, Mark Di Suvero, Dan Flavin, Michael Heizer, Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, Claes Oldenburg, Richard Serra and Robert Smithson. A considerable number of the drawings come from the Visser collection. The collectors Martin and Mia Visser were early advocates of these American artists in the 1960s, when they were introduced in Europe.

The exhibition generates a great deal of interest. Nevertheless, the conceptual character of these works is still difficult for the wider public to appreciate. Oxenaar writes: ‘The exhibition Diagrams & Drawings […] is a great success. Not among the public, of course, but among the circles of interested parties’. Despite the mixed reception, Oxenaar finds it ‘remarkable’ that an exhibition with drawings by sculptors has never previously taken place, ‘neither in Europe, nor America’. Much to his satisfaction, the exhibition is taken up by Basel and Stuttgart and there is great demand for the catalogue from America.