Tenth edition of 'David Bade draws down Heerlen'

During the tenth edition of 'David Bade draws down Heerlen', Bade will talk to the volunteers of theatre festival Cultura Nova. From Monday 12 December to Friday 23 December, David will move into a pop-up studio in the former boxing school at Akerstraat 15 in Heerlen, where he will work on a group portrait, immortalising Cultura Nova in the city of Heerlen's art collection. Bade will be working live in the studio on weekdays. Anyone who finds it interesting to see how Bade works or 'just' wants to have a chat is welcome to attend. The artwork will be festively unveiled on Friday 23 December at 5pm.

About 'David Bade draws down Heerlen'

The public studio is part of the lifelong collaboration between SCHUNCK Museum and David Bade. This involves Bade returning to Heerlen regularly throughout his life to draw a variety of Heerlen people in ever-changing settings and environments. These works are added to the municipal collection managed by SCHUNCK. This creates an image archive that records the DNA of Heerlen. By acquiring the work of David Bade, SCHUNCK steps outside the walls of the museum and enters into a long-term dialogue with the city and its inhabitants.

The traditional group portrait is also kicked up a notch: the group portrait is a tradition dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque eras. In these times, notables such as administrators, important families or professional groups were often portrayed. With his working method and choice of painting group portraits, Bade does not want to respond directly to this seventeenth-century tradition, but rather provide an entirely new approach. Now, the idea is that Bade visits groups, clubs and societies. He enters into conversation with them, pulls up with them and delves into their culture, energy and dynamics. These interactions and encounters will be captured in a series of six large-format group portraits. So far, the groups Pink Peril Roller Derby, breakdance crew HFC and Mondriaan ggz have been portrayed.