Nightbirds

After 'Summer Dreams', the series ‘Surprising finds from the collection’ descends into the night-time world of bohemians and night owls. How did architects over the past century manage to capture in their drawings the bustle as the audience gradually files into a theatre? What mood do their sketches conjure up of a café or club? And does any drawing depict the loneliness of the city, the emptiness after the party? Every month guest interventions by contemporary artists and designers complement ‘Surprising finds from the collection’.

UNRAVELLING THE ARCHIVE

Archivist Alfred Marks once again draws on his vast knowledge of the archive at Het Nieuwe Instituut to tell stories that run like invisible lines through the collection. For ‘Nightbirds’ he focuses on three themes: the theatre, restaurants and dance halls, and the street at night. These are places where people want to see one another and be seen, where they seek company or prefer solitude. Fifty works reflect the emotions of nightlife: the excitement of the audience, the stage fright of the actors, the high-spirits or calm mood in a foyer, and the silence on the street. Complementing this selection is an extensive digital projection with sketches of iconic theatres, concert halls and other venues where nightlife played out in the Netherlands. Among the central figures are architects Onno Greiner, Hendrik Wijdeveld and Herman Hertzberger.