Galerie Hamer was one of the first galleries that specialized in showing outsider art worldwide. Until its closure in 2023 and for 54 years, Hamer provided a shop window for the kind of exciting new art that no other Dutch commercial gallery specialised in; uniquely idiosyncratic work produced away from the dominant art world, and mostly ignored by it. Throughout that time its Director, Nico van der Endt, demonstrated an unwaveringly good eye for the best of this art from elsewhere, often discovering new artists and introducing to The Netherlands many that were already known a little in other places.

 

Precisely because of its unique focus, Hamer also made important contributions to the discourse of contemporary art and culture, creating a space in which ideas about naïve art, art brut, and outsider art could be introduced and discussed.

 

From the start, Van der Endt’s vision and scope was international, extending to countries such as Iran, Turkey and Cuba, as well as Eastern European before they opened up again to the West.

 

Contrast II is the sequel to this year’s earlier exhibition emphazing diversity of outsider art, this time with three new faces, including Cuban artist Federico Garcia Cortizas.