SPANNENBURG.ARTart that matters
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PEOPLE LIKE ME: The Duality of Belonging and Acceptance

When: 11 October 2024 — 13 December 2024
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Where: Kunstlinie, Almere, Nederland
A wide-angle interior view of the PEOPLE LIKE ME exhibition gallery at Kunstlinie Almere. The room features dark walls lined with spotlighted black-and-white photographic portraits by Arjan Spannenburg. A gray bench sits in the center of the polished floor, and a television screen on the right wall displays a video.

From October to December 2024, the museum at Kunstlinie Almere hosted PEOPLE LIKE ME a solo exhibition by photographer Arjan Spannenburg. This collection provided an intimate exploration of the Lgbt+ community, specifically focusing on the personal and shared experiences of gay men.

Die titel PEOPLE LIKE ME dra 'n doelbewuste dubbele betekenis wat dien as die uitstalling se konseptuele grondslag. Enersyds verwys dit na die soeke na verwantskap en sigbaarheid: om "mense soos ek" te vind wat 'n gemeenskaplike identiteit en geskiedenis deel. Andersyds stel dit 'n kwesbare vraag oor sosiale aanvaarding: word "mense soos ek" verkies? Hierdie samelwerking nooi besoekers uit om verby die oppervlak van die portrette te kyk en die universele menslike behoeftes vir verbinding en behoort te oorweeg.

Spannenburg’s work at Kunstlinie showcased human vulnerability alongside a sense of pride. The exhibition gained significant attention not only for its artistic merit but also for its role in a broader social conversation. One notable installation, RESTRAINT, became a focal point for discussion after it was physically damaged by a visitor. Rather than removing the piece, the artist used the incident as a catalyst for dialogue. Visitors were invited to use white tape to symbolically heal the tear in the artwork, transforming a moment of intolerance into a collective statement of support and resilience.

By combining evocative black and white photography with interactive elements, the exhibition moved beyond a standard gallery display. It functioned as a space for reflection on identity, diversity, and the ongoing challenges faced by the rainbow community in modern society.

Participating Artists

Arjan Spannenburg

Arjan Spannenburg

Venue

Logo of Kunstlinie Almere Flevoland, the cultural venue combining museum and theater spaces in Almere.

Kunstlinie

Esplanade 10

Almere, Nederland

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Exhibition Gallery

A black-and-white view of the entrance to the 'People Like Me' solo exhibition by Arjan Spannenburg at Kunstlinie Almere. The text "PEOPLE LIKE ME" and the artist's name are printed in large black letters on a white wall next to a framed monochrome portrait of a torso. Two informational plaques are mounted on the adjacent wall.
The entrance to Arjan Spannenburg’s solo exhibition, People Like Me, which explored themes of identity, vulnerability, and the search for connection within the LGBTQ+ community.
A large-format black-and-white photograph by Arjan Spannenburg titled 'RESTRAINT' is displayed on a metal frame stand at Kunstlinie Almere. The image, showing two young men being pulled apart by several hands, features a jagged vertical tear through the center that physically separates the figures. Scattered white tape fragments and red-handled scissors lie on the floor beneath the installation.
The front view of the artwork RESTRAINT after it was vandalized by a visitor during the People Like Me exhibition at Kunstlinie Almere. The tear transformed the piece from a symbolic representation of societal pressure into a tangible record of intolerance.
The reverse side of the vandalized 'RESTRAINT' installation, showing two large white panels covered in numerous strips of white tape. A large vertical gap remains between the two panels where the canvas was cut. Information about the interactive element of the piece hangs from a sign to the right, and scissors lie on the floor below.
The back of RESTRAINT served as an interactive participation piece, inviting visitors to add tape in support of LGBTQ+ rights. After the vandalism, the artist invited the public to use this tape to symbolically "heal" the tear.

Featured Artworks

ESTRANGED - YANNICK

ESTRANGED - YANNICK

AUSTERE

AUSTERE

SOLACE

SOLACE

SAINT SEBASTIAN

SAINT SEBASTIAN

IMPERISHABLE

IMPERISHABLE

RAPTURE

RAPTURE

YEARNING

YEARNING

DOMINION

DOMINION

CONFUSED

CONFUSED

DESIRE

DESIRE

INUNDATE

INUNDATE

KISS GOODBYE

KISS GOODBYE

LOVED

LOVED

WORRIED

WORRIED

RECIPROCATION

RECIPROCATION

SUBMISSION

SUBMISSION

External References

Museum.nl ↗Omroep Flevoland ↗Stentor ↗
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