EXHIBITIONS WATERLAND PHOTO GALLERY
Marco Bakker
"VALI MYERS AND FRIENDS"
The Australian artist Vali Myers (1930-2003) has been a role model and inspiration for many other artists. In 1949 she travels from Sydney to Paris and meets people like Jean Cocteau, Jean Genet and Jean Paul Sartre. Also she gets acquainted with Dutch artists in Paris such as Simon Vinkenoog, Karel Appel and Bert Schierbeek. She plays a major role in the first book of the renowned Dutch photographer Ed van der Elsken entitled "A love story in Saint Germain des Prés".
In 1958 she settles in her "Wildlife Oasis" near Positano in Italy together with tenths of dogs, cats, a turtle, a pig, a fox and an eel. In this environment she meets many people who feel inspired by her.
The character of Carol in "Orpheus Descending" by Tennesee Williams is based on Vali Myers. Also Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger visit her. In 1970 she meets Salavator Dali who advises her to exhibit her work in Amsterdam. In 1972 her first major exhibition takes place in Amsterdam.
Then she stays often at the Chelsea Hotel at New York and meets with Andy Warhol and Debbie Harry. In 1993, after a stroke, she returns to Australia and travels back and forth between Melbourne and Positano. In February 2003 she dies in Melbourne of stomach cancer. This exhibition shows portraits of Vali Myers and many of her friends who are still alive.
This exhibition has been opened by Simon Vinkenoog.
