Willem de Kooning Academy

Willem de Kooning Academie
Established 1773 'Hierdoor tot Hooger'
1998 Willem de Kooning Academie
Students 2,100+ Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Location Rotterdam, Netherlands
Website www.wdka.nl

The Willem de Kooning Academy is a Dutch Academy of art and design based in Rotterdam and named in memory of Dutch artist Willem de Kooning.

Overview

The Willem de Kooning Academy is the art school of Rotterdam and part of the Hogeschool Rotterdam, a university of applied sciences. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious art schools in the country and No. 1 in advertising and copywriting. Previously called the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Academy of Visual Arts), it has since 1998 carried the name of alumnus Willem de Kooning (1904–1997). Willem de Kooning was born in north Rotterdam and graduated in decoration art (now styling). He went to New York at the age of 22 and became a frontman of the Abstract Expressionism painting movement of the 1940s and 1950s.

The Academy's postgraduate programs are in the Piet Zwart Institute, named after faculty alumnus Piet Zwart (1885–1977), who in the 1920s designed stamps, print advertising, books, interiors, furniture (including the Bruynzeel kitchen) and also spent time photographing and painting. He has been officially awarded the title Dutch Designer of the 20th Century.

The Academy is proud of de Kooning and Zwart, two artists far ahead of their time, and who inspire every artist at the Academy, both students and faculty.

History of the Academy

The roots of the art academy in Rotterdam goes back to 1773, when a group of Rotterdam artists around the marine painter Hendrik Kobell founded drawing society Tekengenootschap Hierdoor tot Hooger.[1][2] In those days drawing societies and academies were founded in many Dutch cities. According to Knolle (2014), these were "instances where new ideas about the production and function of art were developed, exchanged and put into practice. New arrived painters practiced themselves in the evening in drawing from the nude; young apprentice artists and craftsmen received drawing education; other enthusiasts developed their sense for art, for a better life, but also to judiciously collect- preferably Dutch - art."[3]

Fashion show by students of the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts, 1960
Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen, ca. 1965.

In 1781 the drawing society was turned into a public academy, the Rotterdamse Academie Late 18th century, there were also classes in engineering, perspective theory, anatomy, and art philosophy. The academy also kept acting as meeting place for discussion with 303 members in 1808, while at the education counted 45 pupils. In 1822 the academy was renamed Stadstekenschool voor de Bouwkunde, and in 1832 renamed to Volksindustrieschool.

In 1851 the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen was founded from the merger of the Rotterdamse Tekengenootschap and the Rotterdamse Industrieschool. It was located in a building at the Coolvest, now Coolsingel, and directed by Jan Hendrik van de Laar (1807-1874).[4] The school had two divisions, namely the division A, where the arts classes were taught, and the division B, which was technically oriented.

In 1970 the school was renamed Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, and finally Willem de Kooning Academie in 1998.

Programmes

The Academy undergraduate faculty consist of 14 full-time and 4 part-time programmes leading to a BA degree. The full-time programmes: Animation, Fine Art, AudioVisual, Advertising, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Multimedia, Interior Design, Lifestyle, Fashion Design, Digital Photography, Product Design, Spatial Design and Teacher's Program. The part-time programmes: Teacher's Program, Styling, Visual Communication and Graphic and Drawing.

In the 5th and 6th semester (3rd year) students choose their minor, which can be a specialization or differentiation depending on the major. Student can choose a minor offered by the entire university, or choose one of the Academy minors, which are: Art and the City, 3D Computer Graphics, Copywriting, Forecast and Creative Marketing, Photography, Identity, Art Education in Practice, Art Theory, Brands and Packaging, Motion Graphics, Digital Media Design, Open Project Atelier, Products and Concepts, Editorial Design, Painting, Collection, Graphics, Internet Documentary, Presentation, Environmental Communication and Textiles.

The Piet Zwart Institute consist of 3 full-time postgraduate programmes leading to an MA degree: Fine Art, Interior Design and Media Design (Lens-Based & Networked Media). These programmes are regarded as rigorous and the Institute is highly selective with each of the programmes only admitting 10-12 student annually.

Location

Willem de Kooning Academy building with adherent building (on the left).

The Willem de Kooning Academy is located at Blaak 10 and Wijnhaven 61, two adherent buildings connected with an airbridge. Blaak 10 has always been regarded as the 'home base' of the Academy. Due to expansion and increase of students enrolling, the adherent Hogeschool Rotterdam building behind, Wijnhaven 61 where the Academy already occupied classrooms, became entirely occupied by the Academy in September of 2007. Also, the already existing program Leisure Management, moved to the Academy campus.

Young talent

Students participate with national and international contests related to the arts and many participate beyond their own program. Stichting Jaarprijzen Personeelcommunicatie (SJP), a foundation founded to improve recruiting advertisements, yearly awards individuals and companies, for creating the best advertisement. Since 1999 also students are encourage to join and this has led to the establishment of the Jong Talent (young talent) Awards, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize, and Honorary Notice.

Since 1999, Academy students received Honorary Notices in all years. And with the exception of 2005, Willem de Kooning Academy students have won Jong Talent Awards every year, often more than 1 prize. In 2003 it claimed all 3 prizes.

Notable Alumni
  • Barend Hooijkaas jr. (1855–1934)
  • Willem Hussem (1900–1974)
  • Clazien Immink (1946)
  • Willem de Kooning (1904–1997)
  • Cor Kraat (1946)
  • Herman Mees (1880-1964)
  • Herman van der Kloot Meijburg (1875–1961)
  • Bram Moerland (1939)
  • Joep van Lieshout (1963)
  • Arend Odé (1865–1955)
  • Ton van Os (1941)
  • Charles Rochussen (1814–1894)
  • Don Satijn (1953)

References

  1. ↑ J. Bruggeman, Onderwijs in Meervoud: de voorgangers van de Hogeschool Rotterdam & Omstreken in historisch perspectief, Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, 1993.
  2. ↑ Wilma van Giersbergen. Rotterdamse meesters, twee eeuwen kunstacademie in Rotterdam: 1773-1998. Leiden: Primavera Pers. 2012
  3. ↑ Paul Knolle. "Review: Wilma van Giersbergen, Rotterdamse meesters. Twee eeuwen kunstacademie in Rotterdam 1773-1998," in: BMGN - Low Countries Historical Review, Volume 129-1 (2014), review 3.
  4. ↑ Scheen, Pieter A. "Laar, Jan Hendrik van de," in: Lexicon Nederlandse beeldende kunstenaars, 1750-1880, 1981, p. 299.

External links

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