Navid Nuur: When Doubt Turns into Destiny

Navid Nuur is an artist who seeks meaning through an approach that oscillates between art and alchemy. He uses natural transformation processes of materials, influenced by light, darkness, or cold, to visualise immaterial phenomena – such as the flow of energy or the perception of time. In the Oude Kerk, Nuur’s works explore light, time, and space, visible and invisible phenomena, and physical and chemical principles. New and existing works converge in a moving interplay, encouraging us to take a sharper perspective on the world. A ray of sunlight occasionally reveals a streak in the heavens, an instrument periodically exhales a breath of air, and a field of pebbles crunches.

During the duration of the exhibition, Nuur works in a specially designed studio on a series of 100 city vases. Nuur mixes the clay with materials and minerals he collects from Amsterdam. Before firing the vases, he takes them into the city and presses them against façades, kerbs, bridges, benches, and other street furniture. In this way, he gives the vases literal impressions of the city. At the end of the exhibition, the vases are stored in the Iron Chapel. For centuries, this has been Amsterdam's city vault. Each year, a vase is auctioned off. Only in 2125, after one hundred years, will all the vases have left the church, completing When Doubt Turns into Destiny.

The exhibition’s events programme includes an artist talk, concerts, guided tours, performances, and other activities. More information can be found here. At the weekends, you’ll find guides in the church that are happy to talk about the exhibition.

Navid Nuur (Tehran, 1976) lives and works in The Hague. Often described as ‘a playful alchemist,’ he takes an investigative approach that is always rooted in a sense of wonder. His work has been exhibited at prominent venues such as the Centre Pompidou, Paris (2016); Kunstmuseum Den Haag (2021); Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht (2013); La Biennale di Venezia (2011); among others. His works are part of major collections, including Kunsthaus Zürich; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; SMAK, Gent. Nuur received many awards for his work, including the Royal Prize for Free Painting (2011) and the Discoveries Prize at Art Basel in Hong Kong (2013).

When Doubt Turns into Destiny is generously supported by Ammodo, Fonds 21, Stroom Den Haag, and the Mondriaan Fund Artist’s Honorarium grant. With special thanks to Wilfred Groen and Kesbeke. Courtesy: Navid Nuur; Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin; Galeria Plan B, Cluj; Jahn und Jahn, Munich; Galerie Martin van Zomeren, Amsterdam.