Take a good look at this spot, because you're standing where art history was shaken, stirred, and maybe even splattered on the walls! Welcome to the legendary Wide White Space Gallery, once nestled right here on Plaatsnijdersstraat in the house charmingly called “Het Bootje”-which means “The Little Boat.” Don’t worry, you don’t need a lifejacket, just an open mind! Step back in time to 1966: the air buzzed with creativity, and this gallery was the beating heart of Europe’s avant-garde. Founded by the dynamic duo Anny De Decker and Bernd Lohaus, Wide White Space became a launching pad for artists destined to become superstars, like Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys.
Imagine early exhibitions where works by Dr Hugo Heyrman and Panamarenko had everyone scratching their heads and smiling at the same time. Over the years, the gallery showcased wild, world-changing names: Carl Andre, Christo with his wrapped wonders, Dan Flavin’s glowing lights, even Gerhard Richter. The gallery worked especially closely with Joseph Beuys-if walls could talk, they’d probably quote some Beuys performance art at you right now.
Though Wide White Space closed in 1976, its influence didn’t fade. Anny De Decker’s bold vision was rewarded with the ART COLOGNE prize decades later. Standing here, you can almost hear the laughter, debates, and the magic of artists rewriting the rules-and maybe just a hint of paint drying in the background.
