Luc Tuymans: A vision of Central Europe

Different venues, Bruges

The exhibition curated by Luc Tuymans and Tommy Simoens, gives a unique vision of the arts of an extraordinary region as their influences ripple out all over the world and back again. The exhibition is full of paradoxes: light and dark, East and West, the experience of the past in the present and the pains of history. Spread over 5 locations across the city, it includes the work of over 40 artists. In their work the chosen artists display a clear social vision and, like Tuymans, do not shy away from themes like war, violence and trauma.

comunicato stampa

curated by Luc Tuymans and Tommy Simoens

The starting point for this exhibition was the world of difference that exists between the cities of Bruges and Warsaw. While Bruges has survived through the centuries, in WWII Warsaw was devastated, then carefully reconstructed. Polish artists provided the point of departure. From there the exhibition opens up in a number of simultaneous directions, including artists from Germany, Austria, Croatia, Albania, Czech Republic... even extending the scope to the origins of American Pop Art, and ending with the work of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

The exhibition curated by Luc Tuymans and Tommy Simoens, gives a unique vision of the arts of an extraordinary region as their influences ripple out all over the world and back again. The exhibition is full of paradoxes: light and dark, East and West, the experience of the past in the present and the pains of history. Spread over 5 locations across the city, it includes the work of over 40 artists.

The selection of animation artists was curated by Edwin Carels (KASK/HoGent). Their work forms an integral part of the exhibition and there will be a number of screenings in the presence of the artists held at Cinema Lumière. You will find all details here.

Forum+ [Concertgebouw]: Nemanja Cvijanović, Igor Eškinja, Zlatko Kopljar, David Maljković, Zbigniew Rybczyński

Arentshuis: Mirosław Bałka, Hans Bellmer, Guillaume Bijl, Piotr Bosacki, Pavel Büchler, Armen Eloyan, Isa Genzken, Maria Lassnig, Takashi Murakami, Mark Neville, Sigmar Polke, Quay Brothers (Stephen and Timothy), Neo Rauch, Gerhard Richter, Bruno Schulz, Tommy Simoens, Andy Warhol

Memling in Sint-Jan – Hospitaalmuseum: Paweł Althamer, Zlatko Kopljar, Igor Kovalyov

Stadshallen: Mirosław Bałka, Wojciech Bąkowski, Guillaume Bijl, Piotr Bosacki, Armen Eloyan, Isa Genzken, Tadeusz Kantor, Alex Katz, Zlatko Kopljar, David Maljković, Takashi Murakami, Deimantas Narkevičius, Priit Pärn, Neo Rauch, Gerhard Richter, Andreas Slominski, Jan Švankmajer, Paul Thek, Luc Tuymans, Meyer Vaisman, Andy Warhol, Weegee

Grootseminarie: Mirosław Bałka, Walerian Borowczyk, Pavel Büchler, Katharina Fritsch, Klara Kristalova, Zbigniew Libera, Sigmar Polke, Anri Sala, Alina Szapocznikow, Andrzej Wróblewski

Luc Tuymans (Antwerp, 1958) is one of the leading artists of his generation. Here his fascination with Central Europe’s eventful history is translated into an idiosyncratic exhibition of work by thirty of its artists who have left their mark on the artistic scene in their own country and far beyond. In their work the chosen artists display a clear social vision and, like Tuymans, do not shy away from themes like war, violence and trauma.

Looming large will be installations and sculptures by the Polish artist Miroslaw Balka, whose structure ‘How It Is’ has recently dominated the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in London. Using materials like hair, ash, rust, steel and soap, he represents the aftermath of the Holocaust in sober, minimal installations into which he often integrates sounds and smells and, increasingly, motion pictures. The video works he has made over the years are also given a special place in the exhibition.

Apart from Balka, internationally rated fellow artists like Katharina Fritsch and Deimantas Narkevicius as well as lesser-known names and the youngest generation of enfants terribles will present their work. Artists from Poland, Armenia, Lithuania, Servia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, the Ukraine and Albania will be flanked by innovative German artists like Sigmar Polke, Neo Rauch and Gerhard Richter.

The Berlin-based Andreas Slominski and the Polish artist Pawel Althamer will be allowed to express criticism and self-mockery. In 2007 Althamer caused quite a stir with his naked self-portrait in the form of an aerostat more than 20 metres long. Entitled ‘Balloon’, it will hover above Bruges in the run-up to the exhibition. To conclude, the avant-garde works of Bruno Schulz, Alina Szapocznikow and Andrzej Wróblewski will add a historical dimension to the exhibition.

The exhibition trail will lead to five ‘islands of meaning’: Forum+ [Concertgebouw], Arentshuis, Memling in Sint-Jan, Stadshallen and Grootseminarie. There will also be a film programme centred around Eastern European cartoons. The Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, known for his contemporary variation of pop art, has been asked to make a production.

‘Luc Tuymans: A vision of Central Europe’ promises to reveal a highly personal and contemporary image of a region on the move.

Image: Pawel Althamer, Balloon , 1999/2007
Courtesy: neugerriemschneider, Berlin - Foksal Gallery, Warsaw
Originally commissioned and produced by Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Milan © Marco De Scalzi

Press contact Myriam Vandevyvere tel +32 (0)50 44 46 33 myriam.vandevyvere@brugge.be

Opening 22 October 2010

Venues:
Forum+ [Concertgebouw], 't Zand 34, 8000 Brugge
Arentshuis, Dijver 16, 8000 Brugge
Memling in Sint-Jan - Hospitaalmuseum, Mariastraat 38, 8000 Brugge
Stadshallen, Markt 7, 8000 Brugge
Grootseminarie, Potterierei 72, 8000 Brugge
Opening: 09:30 - 18
Admission: € 11 - € 9

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permanent link

Different venues

IN ARCHIVIO [2]

Luc Tuymans: A vision of Central Europe
dal 21/10/2010 al 22/1/2011