H+F
Han Nefkens started to collect art in 2000. The H+F Collection, named after himself and his partner Felipe, is in long-term loan to various museums in The Netherlands and abroad. Nowadays Han Nefkens is not only active as a collector but also as an initiator of international art projects, often in collaboration with museums and other art institutions.
Fundació Han Nefkens
The Han Nefkens Foundation is a private non-profit organisation that was set up in Barcelona in 2009 with the aim of promoting the production of contemporary artworks. The mission is to stimulate artistic creation in Barcelona by offering international artists an opportunity to create artworks and interventions in the city, and to promote other fields of contemporary creation.
Han Nefkens
According to Han Nefkens, sharing is the antidote to loneliness, and he does so through his artistic and anti-AIDS projects and his writing. In 1995, he made his debut with the autobiographical novel Bloedverwanten (“Parents”), which was followed by Twee lege stoelen (“Two empty chairs”, 2006) and De gevlogen vogel (“The bird flew”, 2008). Nefkens also writes short pieces, “vignettes”.
About ArtAids
ArtAids employs art in the fight against Aids by inviting leading artists to produce work dealing with Aids and related issues. These works of art are used to raise public consciousness and to encourage involvement. ArtAids furthermore initiates and supports projects aimed at preventing and fighting Aids.
The ArtAids foundation was set up by the Dutch writer and art collector Han Nefkens, owner of the H+F Collection. Nefkens’ discovery in 1987 that he was HIV positive brought about a radical change in his life. He came to realise that he was living in injury time; each moment is important to him. Han Nefkens sees the intensity of that experience reflected in the world of art, and has decided to use art to increase awareness of the Aids problem and to improve the lives of those living with HIV. Nefkens has established separate ArtAids organisations in the Netherlands, Thailand and Spain.
Now that ArtAids has a Barcelona base, regular activities will be organized in the city and in Catalonia. HIVACAT will be the beneficiary of the funds raised by the Foundation through its activities in Catalonia. ArtAids also makes direct contributions to the Fundació de Lluita contra la SIDA (Fight Aids Foundation), which is based at the Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol (Can Ruti) and works on the development of research to optimize treatment for HIV and related health problems.
Illustrated top: Kofi Annan, Leo Copers and Han Nefkens at the opening of the new UNAIDS headquarters, in Geneva in November 2006. Commissioned by ArtAids, Copers created a work consisting of thirteen reproductions of Redouté prints of roses, coloured with infected human blood.
Illustrated bottom: Han Nefkens and HRH Princess Somsawali at the opening event of More to Love: The Art of Living Together, 24 July 2008. More to Love visitors with photographs by Gerald Van Der Kaap and Leo Copers’ video work Hello.