Eyes Wide Open

18 Oca 2008
1 Haz 2008

In Eyes Wide Open the Stedelijk Museum presents a selection of recently acquired paintings, photographs, examples of film and video art, sculptures and graphic works by artists working in the Netherlands or elsewhere. These acquisitions represent the realisation of the museum’s plans to expand the collection, in particular in the field of narrative painting, paintings that reflect on the medium, and contemporary photography and film. In addition, the museum has aimed to strengthen existing powerful clusters by acquiring work by winners of The Vincent Award.

Enlarge

Luc Tuymans, Rome, 2007 -

Among the most outstanding is Drei Häuser mit Schlitzen, a masterly monumental triptych by Martin Kippenberger, who died in 1997 – the first painting by this influential artist to be included in any public collection in the Netherlands. It is striking how many of these new acquisitions demonstrate a clear – if sometimes indirect – involvement with political or social issues.

In Rome (2007), the personal also becomes political and vice versa. The imposing canvas is by Luc Tuymans (b. 1958) and has been acquired for the Monique Zajfen Collection (which is allied to the Stedelijk). Tuymans frequently blends references to his Catholic, Belgian background with film footage of mass public events – in this case the investiture of a Belgian cardinal at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome – to produce a vision of a church triumphant.

Only the first part of the exhibition will be open from December the 22nd. The second part that helds the works above will be opens Friday January the 18th at 17h.