New chess art exposition opened

In the town of Druten, The Netherlands, you can enjoy a new chess art exposition, called "Global Chess". The exposition will run until June 30 and involves pieces by fifteen Dutch artists who all include the game of chess in their art.

Just like last year, Geert van Tongeren and Margreet Wevers of the company Schaakkunst (Chess Art) have created an exposition with chess art, and chess art only. There are new pieces by artists Henryette Weijmar Schultz, Boldriaan, Jan Langendam, Karin Miedema, Berry and Anna Kool-Troost. For the first time, works by Tjerk Zijlstra can be seen.

Last Sunday the exposition was officially opened by IM Hans B?ɬ?hm. In his speech, B?ɬ?hm paid attention to the centuries-old relation between chess and art, to Jan Hein Donner, to Marcel Duchamp and, inevitable these days, to Bobby Fischer.

B?ɬ?hm's personal theory is that Fischer "didn't go crazy because of chess, but only after he became world champion. And so we can conclude that chess kept him healthy!"

From a chess technical perspective, B?ɬ?hm looked at the piece De Zwickm?ɬºhle by Tjerk Zijlstra. This work was inspired by the chess term "seesaw" (on the left), a motive where the opponent is squeezed dry by taking material and giving checks every other move.


Tjerk Zijlstra - De Zwickm?ɬºhle


During the opening there was also a Chess960 tournament, won by Marcel Lever. His prize was, of course, a piece of art: a mirror in the shape of a chess king.

Photo: Huub Blom


You can visit the exposition until June 30, 2008 in Cultureel Centrum D'n Bogerd, Van Heemstraweg 53 6651 KH Druten.


Google Map: Druten


For details about the location see www.bogerddruten.nl.

Pieces of art along the wall of the Cultureel Centrum D'n Bogerd

A surrealistic hextych

To play the most beautiful game of chess on

Chess tables with lamps

Mainly to look at, this one

Tjerk Zijlstra - The enchantment of the Bantry Bay

Tjerk Zijlstra - Magical figures

Boldriaan - The birth of Global Chess

Henryette Weijmar Schultz - Chess Ballet

Henryette Weijmar Schultz - The conversation

Henryette Weijmar Schultz - The game

Jan Langendam - War of the Worlds

For more chess art, visit the exposition or the Schaakkunst website.