For decades, the so-called White Cube, the immaculate white and sterile exhibition space, was an ideal for museums and galleries to show and celebrate art in an almost sacral way. In Different than Usual Christie van der Haak (1950) is consciously contradicting this by setting up two u-shaped cabinets in the gallery and covering these in her outspoken patterns, which are also applied to the floor in vinyl. On the walls are artworks by other artists that she admires and finds interesting.

Although diverse, the common thread in the work of these artists is a pronounced depiction and a clearly articulated image. Christie van der Haak sees her contribution as creating conditions, but at the same time aims to react to the guest artists’ work in her patterns thus creating a contemporary Gesamtkunstwerk.

The invited artists are: Anya Belyat Giunta (F), Katia Borghesi, Harold de Bree, Ellen van Dijk, Diederik Gerlach, Theun Govers, Elise Hageman, Nynke Koster, Marjolijn van der Meij, Jos de l’Orme, David Pedraza, Helene Penninga, Pim Piët, Peter Vos, Reinoud van Vught and Marcel Zalme.