Photography: Aad Hoogendoorn
The welfare artist drew up the balance by taking up position in a coffin on the festival grounds. He asked his relations to deliver bouquets and words of condolence. Festival-goers were given the opportunity to view the expressions of mourning. The artist himself experienced the true confrontation. Daan Samson perceived the way in which he will be publicly remembered. He wished to obtain a glimpse of the mood around his own final departure.
Contemporary artist Daan Samson examines whether an all inclusive holiday can be experienced as a contemporary work of art. In Alacati, Turkey, the Dutchman enjoys a stay at the Corendon Premier Solto Hotel. One visitor of the TENT.Rotterdam art centre has been selected to accompany the artist. Located in the jetset capital of Turkey the artist questions if the shared experiences are welcome replacements for more traditional forms of art experience.
Artist Daan Samson exclusively produced an artwork for the Frisian village of Heeg. Photo 'Frisian Triumph' (Fryske Triomf) was unveiled during the local festival 'Heechspanning'. The picture shows how a luxury yacht has entered the villages' harbor. Striking is an atmosphere of comfort; which today is widely present within the world of water sports.
The starring roles are for a number of Frisian youngsters. Digging through Facebook the artist has invited this Frisians to participate as models. Confident appearances, convenient yachting clothing and poses that reveal a healthy lust for life. Frisian ship Korneliske Ykes II shines in the background. Daan Samson offers Heeg an artwork to welcome quests triumphantly.
Our political systems have ground to a halt. Contemporary artist Daan Samson is now attempting, by means of a Christmas project, to tackle the political vacuum. Prior to the festive period, he is creating a gift room in 'Kasteel Keukenhof' in Lisse. Presents will be sent to lobbyists, members of Parliament, experts by experience and notables.
The artist does not indicate that he is the sender of the gifts. By contrast, he does specify the names of other leaders from the field of governance. In his role as Christmas Cupid, the artist hopes to force contact between opponents and counterparts. In this way, Samson aims to contribute to the formation of new alliances and covenants. Will the Netherlands come together as a gracious, optimistic nation once again?
{ June 2013 }
Behind the scenes >>
During a transcendental washing ceremony artist Daan Samson helps young women to purify themselves. Negative attitudes and false energies are going to be washed away.
Location of the celebration: an abandoned factory in the city of Vlissingen (NL).
{ March 2013 }
The viceroys' kitchen in the Stedelijk Museum Zwolle dates back to the 16th century. Artist Daan Samson uses it to organise a photoshoot.
Digging through Facebook Daan Samson found two students at the reformed Christian university in Zwolle. The girls were asked to pose together with Dutch vegetables, spices and Magimix foodprocessors.
{ September 2012 }
Left: Mentha spicata L. (Fam: Lamiaceae) Right: Tricyrtis formosana (Fam: Convallariaceae) >>
The excellence and the artist investigate biotopes in which concepts such as growth and succes are directly linked to terms such as 'natural compitition' and 'the individual urge to evolve'.
{ March 2012 }
{ February 2012 }
Different brands and companies were willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of arts, economy and the personal welfare of the artist. In a humble way, a pallet of enviable commodity goods is moved through the town center. After the pageantry tour and the following exhibition, all luxury items will find a permanent place within the Rotterdam residential property of the Rotterdam based artist.
{ June 2011 }
In this second edition of Samson & de With the former leader of the Dutch neoliberal party (VVD) Frits Bolkestein comes on a visit, accompanied by his twenty one years old granddaughter. Together they face a day filled with gifts, contemporary art, roasted coquilles and Down syndrome artists.
{ February 2011 }
At the international art fair Art Rotterdam prosperity artist Daan Samson and photograper Jeronimus van Pelt present a photo series showing delectable 'babes' in the contemporary field of art.
Eight female curators, theorists, artists, critics, museum directors and other art related women have agreed to be portrayed as sexual beings. Purpose of the photo series is to investigate if society grants intellectual women to show their sexual capacities.
{ September 2010 }
Welfare artist Daan Samson publishes a tabloid. In the Rotterdam Witte de With neighbourhood he welcomes Dutch cult hero Ad Visser. With great interest, Daan Samson examines Ad Visser’s unorthodox, free-thinking attitude.
{ June 2010 }
As with other projects, Daan Samson has secured the sponsorship of a number of manufacturers of exclusive lifestyle products. Among fresh beach grass and bright orange poppies we see not only his new flip flops and an enviable design bicycle but also an eco-friendly set of pots and pans with a healthy non-stick coating.
{ February 2010 }
Like a present-day Cupid he is sending luxurious giftboxes to gallery owners, museum directors, art theorists and influential artists. Daan Samson doesn't make himself known as the sender of these luxury gifts, but instead he gives the names of other, unsuspecting, key players in the Scandinavian art world. It is a dream of Hollands most humblest artist to stimulate new connections, to build bridges, and to repair friendships gone sour.
{ August 2009 }
Daan Samson could relate to those feelings and took them as the starting point for a double portrait of his patrons. Using the motto ‘Surely, we are not like that?’ an extensive photo shoot followed on their leafy estate, preceded by a veritable metamorphosis, thanks to fashion label Ralph Lauren.
The finished art work was later revealed by the local Social Democrat (PvdA) alderman.
{ May 2009 }
{ December 2008 }
{ December 2008 }
{ June 2008 }
{ April 2008 }
In front of a full house Daan Samson has five prominent figures the data about the theme ‘commitment in art’. On the large screen in shows a series of sponsored luxury products. People in the audience are able to obtain these must-have lifestyle goodies. All they have to do is get up from their seats and leave the theater. Those who are quickest to respond will be registered as the new owners of the products. Neither the audience nor the panel members have been informed of Daan Samsons ‘sponsor show’ beforehand.
Debaters:
Sponsors:
{ May 2008 }
The artist uses TENT’s educational project to send his letter of resignation to the PvdA offices by asking hundreds of pupils to come up with a motivation for him to end his membership of the party.
Daan Samson signs all of these letters personally and send them to the party headquarters in Amsterdam.
{ February 2008 }
The artist has persuaded a large number of brands and companies to sponsor quality products. All of the exhibited objects are given as a present to Remko Theunissen, staff member of the CBK. When the exhibition ends, he alone goes home a richer man.
Sponsored by:
{ December 2007 }
All the while, three well-stocked fridges are on display on a brightly lit stage. These three fridges are all locked with a big, shining padlock. Daan Samson has sent the keys to three key figures in today's art world. Only when these three decision-makers show up at the party, the fridges will be opened and only then Daan Samson’s partygoers will get something to drink.
{ December 2007 }
With his latest installation Daan Samson takes a look ahead at the personal and professional development of three inspiring big shots in the international contemporary art scene.
3 scale model cars in display cases
{ December 2007 }
{ May 2007 } Project proposal for Sonsbeek 2008
The most important ingredient will consist of the handful of people that are allowed as contestants. As if they are already his very best friends Daan Samson receives an international group of leading critics, successful artists and influential museum directors. Under the watchful eye of the crowd these happy few will be extensively introduced to the etiquette and customs of this ‘noblest sport on earth’.
{ February 2007 } Project proposal for Museum S.M.A.K.
Against the backdrop of the working-class houses in Bernadette Daan Samson transforms the neighbourhood park into an aesthetically designed golf course. During one thrilling day of competition the course is teeming with influential curators, artists, gallery owners and leading museum directors. Daan Samson, always a flamboyant host, makes sure that his guests are extensively introduced to the etiquette and customs of the world's best-known network sport.
{ March 2007 }
Daan Samson seized the occasion of the exhibition to restock himself with a new line of underwear and turned to the renowned underwear brand of Claesen’s. The artist requested the manufacturer to replace both his old assortment of boxer shorts and his collection of T-shirts with 14 brand-new, lilywhite specimen, all of ‘heavy duty quality’. The artist is also very pleased with the 14 pairs of socks that make up the triptych. Unlike his former lot, these new socks are all of exactly the same size and colour.
{ December 2006 }
But isn't Daan Samson mainly fooling himself here? The artist has arbitrarily tracked down a number of individuals with the exact same names as his successful colleagues and has invited these people as his guests for Christmas. When Daan Samson starts handing out a large number of tasteful presents, everything seems just as hunky-dory as in the famous Wham! video clip.
{ May - June 2006 }
1. Lounge chair ‘Rhino' / Designed by Richard Hutten (Richard Hutten Collection)
3. TruusTrendy Hoody / Anti_Mass_ Consumption_Warriorism fashion
5. Metropolitan World Atlas / Published by 010 Publishers
7. Undressed Underwear / Designed by Marlies Dekkers
2. Klara Compact Disks, 10 pcs / Published by Klara classical music station
4. Wichards Handmade Bag / Suitable for men and women, designed by Marielle Wichards
6. Vrij Nederland magazine / An annual subscription to the Dutch magazine
On Brussels’ busiest shopping avenue, Daan Samson shows a number of carefully selected quality products. These sponsored articles are intended for specific individuals... the three currently most talked-about Belgian art curators:
Via the media Daan Samson informs the three curators that they have been chosen to come and pick up their gift articles during the presentation in Brussels. What are the three decision makers going to do?
{ January 2006 }
The presentation thus becomes the baby's first introduction to the products that will surround him for years to come.
{ September 2005 } New York
From Rotterdam, he contacted the successful Dutch artist couple Marc Bijl and Iris van Dongen. He asked the ‘dream couple’, who were living in New York City at the time, if they would lend him their three-year-old son Enzo for a day. Partly thanks to the borrowed star toddler, market leader Bugaboo showed themselves willing to give Daan Samson a sturdy baby jogger for free. Together with little Enzo and the green Bugaboo Daan Samson spent a memorable day in Central Park.
{ May 2005 }
On two banners on the shop’s façade the artist sketches meetings between key players in the Rotterdam art scene. In his idiosyncratic way he mixes facts and fiction, presenting real curators, artists and gallery owners as if they were the actors in a ‘play’ written by himself. Santas Espresso coffee invariably serves as the tasty ‘lubricant’…
{ May 2005 ]
This art work was part of the ‘Identity: artist’ event in the Rotterdam art space Gangkast (May 2005)
{ February 2005 }
The three light boxes of this art work show stylised, partial maps from the Rotterdam city plan. On each map the location of the local branch of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain is marked, as well as the private residence of one of three leading Dutch curators.
{ October 2004 }
In this installation, a series of painted townscapes that were photographed in different museums are linked to the nine frequencies of the Dutch classical music station Radio 4. Daan Samson’s art work ‘covers’ the entire frequency range of Radio 4 in the Netherlands.
{ August 2004 }
{ June 2004 }
{ June 1996 }
This life-size portrait was the highlight of Daan Samson’s exhibition ‘Bever Zwerfsport’.
The artist made an installation in which he drew a conceptual parallel between visual art’s urge for innovation and the adventurous nature of outdoor sports. The art philosopher A.A. van den Braembussche, PhD, kindly posed in a survival outfit by Bever Zwerfsport, a store chain for hiking gear.
< A.A. van den Braembussche, PhD, art philosopher, in a survival outfit by Bever Zwerfsport
