Coffee anyone?

Jan Schoonhoven – Elanden Jazz Prize – 1972

Jan Schoonhoven is regarded as one of the most important Dutch artists of the late twentieth century. His body of work is considered minimalist and consists mainly of white geometric wall reliefs made from cardboard.

Jan’s wife Anita Schoonhoven was heavily involved in the jazz scene of their hometown of Delft. Because of the Schoonhoven’s donations many renowned jazz artists performed in the small Dutch city. In 1972 the couple sponsored a Jazz award called the ‘Elanden Jazz Prize”. The award itself was an artwork by Schoonhoven: a wall relief, at that time already worth thousands of dollars. The winner was Han Reiziger, a jazz minded radio presenter for broadcasting organization VPRO.

Reiziger: “The award was meant for me, but I was too nice and I felt the work should be hung on a wall of the VPRO building.” Soon after the ceremony Reiziger moved to the United Stateds for half a year. “When I came back, it was nowhere to be found.”

In an interview in 2011 another VPRO employee remembers the relief was very suitable for serving plastic cups of coffee. “They fitted perfectly. Soon it was full of coffee stains.” What happened after that? “No idea, probably thrown away…”