Thursday, May 7, 2009
From MITSY, MO & EVA
Thank you for all the beautiful stories and memories about Adriaan.
We feel supported by the warmth & love.
Warm Regards,
Mitsy, Mo & Eva
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Adriaan the Love Machine - from Annie Sprinkle
When I first met Adriaan in 1989 I immediately fell in love with this darling, wonderful, sexy man. Since that fateful day I have always affectionately called him my ‘art pimp.’ He plucked me from the sex industry where I had been working for years as a prostitute and porn star. He put me in several exhibitions at Torch, plus produced and published my first, and still best, book. I enjoyed the sex industry but had a big, juicy fantasy of being an artist. Adriaan helped make my fantasy into a very juicy reality.
Mitsy was of course Adriaan’s #1 gal. Rightly so! She was always delightfully warm and welcoming toward me, and I have so much respect for her. Adriaan of course had lots of women artist in his stable. I was a little jealous, and very happy, when he started to work with the fabulous Italian blonde porn star Cicciolina. Adriaan was very good to us sex worker artists. Bless his heart. We would give him our art works and he would give us back money to keep us in new high heels, sexy lingerie and big wigs. Plus we got to spread our political messages around the globe.
Adriaan will live on in my heart, and I’ll always be eternally grateful that he took me, and my work to all the best art places. Every minute being with him was sheer ecstasy. He was a love machine! And no, we never had sex. The artistic collaborations were completely satisfying.
Annie Sprinkle, Ph.D.
The Love Machine with his #1 Girl.Here are some photos from last summer (2008). Fortunately I canceled a gig and jumped on a plane to Amsterdam to go pay my respects to Adriaan, who helped me so much over the years. Mitsy was absolutely radiant, and so in love with her man.
Adriaan always encouraged me to find a live partner-mate. He had met one or two hundred of my lovers over the years. But when I introduced him to my gal of the last seven years, artist Elizabeth Stephens, he said she was "a real keeper."
This coming August Elizabeth and I will be doing a performance art wedding in blue at the Venice Bienale. We will dedicate the entire wedding to our angel Adriaan Van Der Have.I wouldn't be going to the Venice Bienale if it weren't for Adriaan.
Breast wishes dear Andriaan. I will always keep you in my heart next to my big boobies. You were one fine art pimp. Once, in Miami, Adriaan picked himself up a souvenir t-shirt at one of the tourist traps that read:
"I don't care if they're real, as long as they're real big!"
Classic Torch! You could always laugh about boobies, jugs, and funbags with Adriaan!
From Richard Goodall - Uuunbelievable
The first photo was taken in Amsterdam in April 2000. Adriaan explaining to me the finer points of white beer with a slice of orange..'Uuunbelievable', as only he could say.
We had an ongoing competition of who could make the most sales. Whoever was ahead was crowned 'Uno'. He made me the packet of pills based on the Dana Wyse series. Ah, but Adriaan, you will always be 'Uno'. Sharon and I will look forward to meeting old friends in Rotterdam next month.
Richard Goodall
Monday, April 20, 2009
Rotterdam : T-shirt (Tinkebell)

It would be fantastic if everyone at the opening would wear his or her own -keep your torch burning- shirt!
Looove TINKEBELL."
thats it! :), Looove TINKEBELL.
i will bring them all to the kunsthal so everyone can pick up his or her t-shirt at the entrance.
Rotterdam - Hotels
For those that want to stay at a hotel in Rotterdam for the May 29 Torch exhibition at the Kunsthal: simply google hotels Rotterdam:http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Hotels+near+Kunsthal+Rotterdam&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Margi who lives in Rotterdam recommends the beautiful Hotel New York (accross the water) and Hotel Bazar (funky, but probably the type Adriaan would stay at).
This is what Kunsthal mailed me:
.
Hotel van Walsum
Mathernesserlaan 199-201 , 3014 HC Rotterdam
T.; +31 10 436 32 75 , F.: +31 10 436 44 10
E.: info@hotelvanwalsum.nl , W.; http://www.hotelvanwalsum.nl/
.
Hotel Breitner
Breitnerstraat 23 , 3015 XA Rotterdam
T.: + 31 10 436 02 62 , F.: +31 10 436 40 91
E.: info@hotelbreitner.nl , W.: http://www.hotelbreitner.nl/
.
Sometimes people stay at the Grand Hotel Philadelphia, also walking distance of the Kunsthal:
Grand Hotel Philadelphia
Van Vollenhovenstraat 48-50 , 3016 BJ Rotterdam
T.: +31 10 240 04 25 , F.: +31 10 270 97 35
E.: grandhotel@philadelphia.nl , W.: http://www.grandhotelphiladelphia.nl/
.
A little more expensive, beautiful located, but a little further away from the Kunsthal:
Hotel New York
Koninginnenhoofd 1 , 3072 AD Rotterdam
T.: +31 10 439 05 55 , F.: +31 10 484 27 01
E.: info@hotelnewyork.nl , W.: http://www.hotelnewyork.nl/
.
And near by, but most luxury of all these hotels:
Bilderberg Parkhotel
Westersingel 70 , 3015 LB Rotterdam
T.: +31 10 436 36 11 , F.: +31 10 436 42 12
E.: parkhotel@bilderberg.nl , W.: www.bilderberg.nl
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Rotterdam - INVITATION - Friday May 29, 2009 (8:00 PM)
The Director of the Kunsthal Rotterdam has the pleasure
of inviting you to the opening of the exhibition
The Unforgettable Fire
25 year TORCH Gallery
. .
Friday May 29, 2009 in the evening at 8.00 PM
Wim van Krimpen will open the exhibition
The exhibition is on view from May 30th to September 6th, 2009
.
.
Blommers & Schumm, Terry Rodgers, Loretta Lux, Starn Twins, Margi Geerlinks,
Sanchez Brothers, Daniëlle Kwaaitaal, Henk Tas, Twan Janssen, De Sirenen,
Alan David Tu, Annie Sprinkle, Teun Hocks, Ellen Kooi, Jochen Mülhenbrink,
Stepanek & Maslin, Martin Denker, Carolus, Daniël Kramer,
Charlemagne Palestine, Servaas, Eelco Brand and Wouter Deruytter
The exhibition pays homage to Adriaan van der Have
At Art Unlimited a jubilee publication is to appear, initiated by Margi Geerlinks
phone +31-(0)10-4400300
fax +31-(0)10-4367152
communicatie@kunsthal.nl
www.kunsthal.nl
open:
Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
Sundays and public holidays 11 AM to 5 PM
..
Please present this invitation at the entrance
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Murakami - Adriaan was first (again)
Murakami and Adriaan, Spiegelgracht, Amsterdam, 2007 (photo: Nico Delaive) Sent to us by Nico Delaive:
In 1997: Adriaan showed Takashi Murakami as one of the first galleries outside Japan.
Murakami and Adriaan, Spiegelgracht, Amsterdam, 2007 (photo: Nico Delaive)==================
Comment by Adriaanisalive:
Note again Adriaan's clear plastic Maastricht bag.
No: not the same one as in some former pictures. He had 100s of them ;-)
Here's the story:
Adriaan at one point organized a rather successfull side-fair when the Tefaf Maastricht artfair was on. (These are the plastic bags from his fair. Just like he did in 1984 (with Nico) outside the Amsterdam Artfair. See the post of April 13).
Tefaf was powerful enough to convince the city of Maastricht not to let such a side-fair happen again ...Can you imagine this in Miami or NewYork ...
=====================
COMMENTS:
Pearl said...
Oh! Now I know the full story of the bags! I admit that I felt a little guilty for not having bought him a more chic tote, but now I know that bag was a trophy from the rebellion!
April 17, 2009 6:21 PM
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Zorgvlied
Last week Wednesday, April 8, 2009:Adriaan was put to rest in the beautiful cemetery Zorgvlied.
According to Adriaan's wishes: it was done with his close family only.
Zorgvlied is a beautiful 138 years old cemetery at the river Amstel, just outside Amsterdam in the village Amstelveen.
Adriaan is now surrounded by many famous artists and characters like Annie MG Schmidt (writer), Herman Brood (musician and painter), Manfred Langer (former owner of the iT), Peter Gielen (former owner of The Roxy), Greet Hofmans (healer), Frank Govers (fashion), and so many more.
There are more than 2000 trees in the cemetery and lots of animals live there... Adriaan will go crazy, as much as he did when deer ate the pears off the trees at his summerhouse garden ;-)
It is a custom there that the family drinks champagne at the grave, but in the middle of the service it started pouring rain, so that was kept for the afternoon at the home of Grandma (Adriaan's mother).
Next time we drink a glass of champagne: it will be in Adriaan's name. Many times.

Saturday, April 11, 2009
Prague Revolution
http://adriaanisalive.blogspot.com/2009/04/prague-1984.html :
and of Thursday's post "From Some Secret Archives"
http://adriaanisalive.blogspot.com/2009/04/from-some-secret-archives.html
.
Jacques van de Vall has sent us these blasts from the past.
All pictures were taken by Stanislav Tuma (1950-2005) a.k.a. Standa
.
After an openings act at Mitsy's exhibition 1983(Adriaan + Jacques + Mitsy)
Two buddies take Takashi Murakami

adriaan en ik nico delaive al meer dan 27 jaar maatjes speciaal in teveel eten
nico delaive"
.
Translation: "Two old buddies take Takashi Murakami at Volta 2006 (Miami).
Adriaan and I have been buddies for more than 27 years; especially into eating too much
Nico Delaive"
Rebel Rebel: 1982: Adriaan and Nico protesting
Nico Delaive writes: "Ik en adriaan in protest voor de eerste kunst beurs zelfs de politie kreeg ons niet weg zo rond 1982 ?1983 adriaan en ik zij aan zij ".
Translation: "Me and Adriaan protesting in front of the first Art Fair. Even the police couldn't get us to leave. About 1982 or 1983. Adriaan and me; side by side."
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Uncertain 2008
October 2007 (Zeeland / Amsterdam)
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Wouter writes: After years of not really knowing what was deteriorating Adriaans health, it is my understanding that the cancer was discovered in June 2007. When the treatment (a very advanced way of stem cell transplant) was proposed as the only way out, Adriaan very bravely did all the necessary treatments. In July he wrote me "Kahler is inderdaad erg heftig....helaas.... We doen ons best to kill the motherfucker ! (Kahler is very heavy indeed. Unfortunately. We do our best to kill the mf)".
It was all much harder than expected. Radiation, medicines, … But Adriaan kept organizing future ArtFairs and exhibitions. The right attitude. But the stemcell operation was planned around the time of ParisPhoto November 2007, so he canceled that one.
Early August he wrote "I hope I wasnt braver when I decided it than when I have to undergo it... I didnt really realize all I guess...perhaps good in the end I didnt...I need to become in a comateus situation first before getting the right cells...this means that I am technically spoken dead for a while. didnt realize either that I need 2 to 3 weeks hospital in complete isolation... (all happens oktober or early november....) So I hope when I resurrect ,that you , Ed ,Nicolas & Nathan are extra proud of me !"
In September Adriaan wrote: "Misschien lukt het niet..., Zou een medisch wonder zijn is me reeds verteld. Maar ja , dat is meteen ook een uitdaging voor me... 1 okt. 4e en laatste chemo kuur, 1/2 okt. Stamcellen inwinning, operatie hoop ik half November, dan moet 14 dagen in quarantaine...., daarna hoop ik ziekenhuis uit te mogen...misschien wishful thinking.. (Maybe it won't work ... it would be a medical miracle ... but then that's also a challenge for me ... Oct 1: 4th and last chemo treatment, mid Oct gathering stemcells , operation hopefully mid-November, have to be then 14 days in quarantine..., then hopefully leaving the hospital... maybe wishful thinking.. )
The fear kicked in and my friend and I decided to fly over to Amsterdam to try and cheer up Adriaan. That was October 2007. See pictures above.
November 2007: Treatment seems to go "well". Ofcourse Adriaan was a wreck, but he did the art fair Pulse in Miami. See pictures below (in my former posting). Upon return (Dec 12): Adriaan wrote: "Arrived few hours ago from Miami. Tomorrow early I will leave for hospital and hopefully they let me go again early january. If so that would be a good sign. No feastdays for uncle TORCH this year I am afraid.Very strange..Never was in these circumstances before...".
2008 was an unsure time for Adriaan. Not knowing which road the cancer would go. Sometimes it did seem to go quite well and doctors told him “you shouldn’t be alive now”. Many of us really thought he was a unique survivor. The treatments did give Adriaan another year. Doing several art fairs including ArtDubai, Pulse NewYork, Pulse Miami, … It all seemed to go better. We all thought that denying the cancer would trick his destiny. Then Adriaan told us maybe 1 more year. Then 5 more months. Then 2 months. And suddenly 5 days later he was gone.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Obituary from Dutch Museums
The passing away of
ADRIAAN VAN DER HAVE
founder of TORCH Gallery
has moved us deeply.
With his sparkling personality and his brave choices, Adriaan took a special position within the art world.
We loose with him an inspiring, dynamic and a colleague full of life.
The directors and fellow-workers of
Fotomuseum Den Haag
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
Gemeentemuseum Helmond
Groninger Museum
Kunsthal Rotterdam
===========================
COMMENTS:
Pearl said...
That is beautiful. I can't think of the last time US museums honored the passing of a gallerist.
April 11, 2009 2:45 PM
Obituary from Adriaan's family
From Danielle Kwaaitaal
“Dear Adriaan,Looking at this picture takes me back to the start of our collaboration, HI&LO back in 2002. Not High not Low, but Hi and LO, remember? Since then we grew into a fruitful team with my show Whispering Waters at the Groninger Museum being the heart of the rose of our friendship and collaboration. Thank you for making me grow and sharing all your incredible ideas, joy and inspiration, you’ll be missed big time. Mo, Mitsy, my heart is with you guys!
Love
Danielle Kwaaitaal”
From Simon Henwood
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A tribute to Torch by his artists
Wurggreep - Headlock
From Some Secret Archives

Who are these characters? Revolutionaries? Movie actors? Ollanders?
(This is how Adriaan would tease me with e-mails....)Het Parool (Dutch newspaper)
Ten slotte Adriaan van der Have 1958 - 2009
Adriaan van der Have was medeoprichter van de kunstkaarten en posterwinkel Art Unlimited, waarna hij in 1984 een galerie voor hedendaagse kunst begon: Torch. In een tijd die werd gedomineerd door het wilde schilderen, presenteerde Torch fotografie nadrukkelijk als kunstvorm, met geënsceneerde foto's van kunstenaars als Teun Hocks en Henk Tas.
In de jaren negentig introduceerde Van der Have de gemanipuleerde computerfoto's van Inez van Lamsweerde en Micha Klein. Van der Have had geen boodschap aan bestaande disciplines in de kunstwereld en bracht een aanstekelijke mix van fotografie, schilderkunst, mode, popmuziek en showbizz in tentoonstellingen met Viktor & Rolf, Anton Corbijn, Gerald van der Kaap en Loretta Lux.
Van der Have was daarbij vanaf het begin opvallend internationaal georiënteerd.
''Hij stond al op de beurs van Bazel voordat iemand bij wijze van spreken wist dat daar een kunstbeurs was,'' zegt collega Diana Stigter. Zijn enorme netwerk strekte zich wereldwijd uit, maar Van der Have was vooral goed op de hoogte van de ontwikkelingen in de Verenigde Staten.
Zijn galerie presenteerde werk dat onconventioneel en recalcitrant was. Hij balanceerde vaak op het randje van de goede smaak. Van der Have bracht werk van ex-naziregisseur Leni Riefenstahl, maar net zo goed van ex-pornokoningin Annie Sprinkle.
Ook voor überkitsch was men bij Torch aan het juiste adres. Een van zijn laatste protagonisten was Terry Rodgers, schilder van hedonistische doeken met halfnaakte jonge mensen die verveeld op decadente champagnefeestjes rondhangen.
Fotografe Margi Geerlinks, sinds 1999 verbonden aan de stal van Adriaan van der Have, werkte de afgelopen maanden koortsachtig aan een publicatie over 25 jaar Torch. Geerlinks: ''Ik heb vooral bewondering voor de manier waarop Adriaan zijn kunstenaars steunde. Zelfs tijdens zijn ziekte ging hij onverminderd door om ons te promoten.''
De publicatie verschijnt tegelijk met een overzichtstentoonstelling met 25 jaar Torch in de Kunsthal in Rotterdam. De openingsdatum, eind mei, heeft Adriaan van der Have niet meer mogen meemaken.
Toen hij zijn dood zag aankomen, heeft de oprichter van Torch Adriaan van der Have zijn 23-jarige zoon Mo ingewerkt om de galerie over te nemen. (KEES KEIJER)
Luister naar een interview uit 2008 met Van der Have op de website van De Avonden (VPRO)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Adriaan in Zeeland
We were emailing back and forth as usual, and we were teasing him about not working all summer. We were also talking about how he was spending his time in Zeeland.
So he sent us this photo of himself in his little ship.
The True Art Story
The Unforgettable Fire
dinsdag t/m zaterdag 10.00-17.00 uur, zon- en feestdagen 11.00-17.00 uur

The Unforgettable Fire
25 jaar TORCH Gallery
29 mei t/m 6 september 2009
.
eerbetoon Adriaan van der Have
_________________________
.
Ieder jaar een kunstenaar
De jubileumtentoonstelling biedt met werk van 26 kunstenaars - ieder jaar een kunstenaar - een veelzijdig overzicht van de bewogen geschiedenis van de galerie. Met werk van Anton Corbijn, Gerald van der Kaap, Inez van Lamsweerde, Blommers & Schumm, Terry Rodgers, Loretta Lux, Starn Twins, Margi Geerlinks, Sanchez Brothers, Daniëlle Kwaaitaal, Henk Tas, Twan Janssen, De Sirenen, Alan David Tu, Annie Sprinkle, Teun Hocks, Ellen Kooi, Jochen Mülhenbrink, Stepanek & Maslin, Martin Denker, Carolus, Daniël Kramer, Charlemagne Palestine, Servaas, Eelco Brand en Wouter Deruytter.
Portret Adriaan van der Have © Anton CorbijnBij Art Unlimited verschijnt op initiatief van Margi Geerlinks de gelijknamige jubileumpublicatie.
Ontwerp: Marnix Dees en Theo Ruys
Tuesday till Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays and Holidays 11am-5pm
.25 Years TORCH Gallery
29 May to 6 September 2009
Since 1984 TORCH Gallery has been of major importance to photography in both the Netherlands and abroad. With great enthusiasm and passion gallery owner Adriaan van der Have has provided a platform for talented and today well-known artists within his gallery. With a clear eye for young and self-willed talent he has managed to present trendsetting and sometimes controversial art. The jubilee exhibition offers work by 26 artists - one artist per year - and thus presents a varied survey of the stirring history of the gallery.
One artist per year
With works by Anton Corbijn, Gerald van der Kaap, Inez van Lamsweerde, Blommers & Schumm, Terry Rodgers, Loretta Lux, Starn Twins, Margi Geerlinks, Sanchez Brothers, Daniëlle Kwaaitaal, Henk Tas, Twan Janssen, De Sirenen, Alan David Tu, Annie Sprinkle, Teun Hocks, Ellen Kooi, Jochen Mülhenbrink, Stepanek & Maslin, Martin Denker, Carolus, Daniël Kramer, Charlemagne Palestine, Servaas, Eelco Brand and Wouter Deruytter.
The exhibition pays homage to Adriaan van der Have.
Publication
Art Unlimited publishes the jubilee book of The Unforgettable Fire. 25 Years TORCH initiated by artist Margi Geerlinks.
Design: Marnix Dees en Theo Ruys. More information about the publication: contact@margigeerlinks.com

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