User:Ernstkraft

The Project DIN A4 is a unique collection of contemporary art. All works in the collection have been created on this particular designated size (often, but not necessarily, the works have been created specifically for this purpose). The collection includes both emerging and established artists and even in, some cases, works have been donated posthumously by courtesy of the artistic executors. The name of the Project is derived from the concept DIN A4, this is a European standard paper size. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normierung (German Institute for Standardization). The A4 measurements are 210 x 297 mm. Setting this limitation as a condition of the size of the works to this particular format has made it possible to build up, conserve and continue this collection, simply because the size DIN A4 allows easy storage and transportation. The Project Din A4 is an international itinerant Museum of Contemporary Art. Its home base is the Municipal Archive of the Town hall in Malaga, Spain. All artists in the collection are well documented in the corresponding website: www.dina4.org.es When evaluating the DIN A4 project, we should start by considering the concept. This concept has two sides: one, to create an international display of the wide range of contemporary art; the second, to create a permanent collection. The underlying thought was, after all, that it is an artists' project, that participating in the project should not imply any costs to the artist, apart from sending the works. Their participation would be guaranteed by the growing prestige of the collection and its exhibitions. The charm and strength of the project is the form: all works are on a standard paper size (DIN A4), often sketchbook size anyway, which fits into standard envelopes and is easy to store and to send. Funnily enough with the overseas expansion of the project, it became clear that DIN A4 is a European standard and Americans had to cut their paper to size. Their standard has been incorporated since. The Project Din A4, having started in Holland, with the enthusiasm of the original members, the involvement of other nationalities quickly spread. Whilst the early impact was that of Dutch and German artists, there later came vibrant additions from Belgian, French, Polish, English and Balkan artists The DIN A4 exhibition in two Spanish venues and one in Mexico and one in Cuba gave rise to an influx of Spanish speaking artists and later there came the addition of artists from Romania and Italy. Thus the reputation of DIN A4 spread to an ever widening international field. DIN A4's Centre of Management was recently moved to Malaga in Andalusia, Spain. With the addition of new initiatives, and the continued enthusiastic support of the Dutch founders, we are sure that the project will continue to grow as a vital means of artistic expression throughout an increasing number of countries both by means of active participation and through a growing number of international exhibitions. Recent exhibitions have been held in Passau, Germany, in Santa Rosa, Argentina, in Madrid, Spain and in Lima, Peru. Forthcoming shows are planned in Katmandu, Nepal, in the Netherlands and in Croatia.