Project DIN A4, a brief history

2000 The DIN A4 project started in August 2000 as one of the ideas initiated by the Artist Collective L5, consisting of Pi Backus, Hans Kuys, Petro van Mourik, Ans Deenen, Margriet Geraets, and Joop Lommertzen, in Roermond, Holland, having ad hoc sponsoring by the Government of Limburg.
2001 The idea was extended to become an internet manifestation. At the same time, itinerant exhibitions were, and are, organized to display the actual works. As of this time, the exhibition has visited, or is planned to, places like Germany, France, Holland, Poland, Bosnia, Mexico, and Cuba, as well as other countries.
2006 Part of the collection was moved to Malaga, at first hosted by the Gabinete de Hyde (Antonio Troyano in coordination with Ernst Kraft), later by the association Malaga on.
2008 L5 organised its farewell exhibition with the show “Din A4 total” in the Stedelijk Museum in Roermond, and after a representative exhibition in Belforte (Italy), curated by Alfonso Caputo on behalf of Terra dell’arte, the entire collection has become the main project of Malaga on.
2009 The new DIN A4 website has been launched by the Area de Cultura of Malaga, promoting at the same time its ambition to become European Capital of Culture in 2016.

Present organisation of the DIN A4 project

Conservation, consolidation, filing, and extending the collection as well its promotion and exhibition, in collaboration with participating artists, other cultural associations or institutions, is carried out and is the exclusive responsibility of the artist association Malaga On (Ernst Kraft, Veronica Romero, Joop Lommertzen, Alan Burden, Yves Bosch, Jamie Benz).
Address: DIN A4 - Calle Calderería 7, 4ª, nº1 in Malaga, Spain

For 2 years now, Malaga on has worked closely with Terra dell’arte and Ars Latina

An international committee has been established to support, advise and correct, when necessary, and to guarantee the artistic standards of the DIN A4 project.
Committee members: Pi Backus (as founder and former coordinator of DIN A4 on behalf of L5), Alfonso Caputo (on behalf of Terra dell’arte and Ars Latina), Laura Castenedo (on behalf of Terra dell’arte and Ars Latina), Ingrid Rosas (on personal merits), Jorge Restrepo (on personal merits) with Ernst Kraft, Veronica Romero and Joop Lommertzen (on behalf of Malaga on)
This committee will soon be extended with 4 more members to a maximum total of 11, to avoid undue bureaucracy. They will be selected on artistic and organisational merits but also for geographical reasons to guarantee the global network of the project.

What is the DIN A4 Project?

The Project DIN A4 is a collection of contemporary art of works produced on this designated size (normally, but not necessarily, the works have been made specifically for this purpose). It includes both emerging and established artists and even in, some cases, posthumous works have been included by courtesy of the artistic executors.

DIN A4 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 for convenience both in storage and transportation.

In the various exhibitions of the individual works, care has been taken to give a balanced presentation, to prevent visitors from becoming overwhelmed by the quantity of work, thereby also, trying to prevent the individual works from being underestimated or from being placed in a competitive atmosphere.

The Project has asked professional artists, from all over the world, to send two works on paper size DIN A4, in order to apply to participate.
The aim is to encourage artists to be registered and presented. This project can only be realized with the cooperation of all artists. The participation of each artist with his/her work in this project will make DIN A4 a permanent manifestation of the persistent urge of artists to represent their thoughts, feelings, environment and time.

All selected works are registered on video and CD-ROM or DVD and shown in alternating exhibitions. The works will be stored with care and will be shown on demand to interested visitors.

With this collection of works we want to make the DIN A4 Project a reference to contemporary art.

Statement

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. Well, they did and they do!

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 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. 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.

DIN A4 Curriculum

Click on highlighted items to see specific photo gallery

2010 DIN A4 10 years, events are being suggested, evaluated and planned
2009 October: DIN A4, Archivos Abiertos, DIN A4, sala del Archivo Municipal, Malaga, Spain / España.
2009 August: Kulturmodell, Passau, Germany 
2009 June: DIN A4 Otras dimensiones, Din A4 artists: works in other dimensions, Sala Moreno Villa, Malaga, Spain / España.

Full A4 History here

Din A4 artist info

How can you participate?
Send two original works on paper size 210 x 297 mm. (DIN A4) to:
DIN A4, Malaga on (Ernst Kraft / Verónica Romero)
C/. Calderería Nº 7 - 4ª - 1
CP.29008 – Málaga – Spain

Tel. (0034) 678 743 491 or (0034) 619 85 19 34

Send your works, by regular mail or courier, in a solid package, together with the following printed information: postal address, email address, artistic background, exhibitions etc.
Send the same written information (in a Word document) by e-mail, plus photos of the 2 DIN A4 works that you want to enter, and optionally, but highly recommended, 1 personal photo (passport like) and up to 4 relevant photos of other works, like paintings, sculptures, installations, etc. to dina4.ernst@gmail.com
You will be sent a receipt by email and we will send you more information as the need arises during this project.
There will be a selection process in order to maintain the overall quality of the DIN A4 project.
Selected works are at the disposal of the DIN A4 Project, for the continuation of non-profit cultural activities such as exhibitions and publication on the Internet.
We will handle and store the works to professional standards.
Due to the scale of the project, we cannot be responsible for loss or damage to the works during transportation or due to other unforeseen circumstances.
We will pass your address, with your permission, to interested visitors in order to contact you (please inform us if you do not wish your address to be given)
Sending your works means the full acceptance of the conditions pointed out above.
(Should your works not be selected for the project we will only send them back to you at your own expense. Please indicate your acceptance of this condition)