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Rijksmuseum Twente, Metamorphosen

25 January - 4 October 2015 
On show: Installations Collapsing cabinet and drawings

Since the publication of Ovid’s famous book Metamorphoses in the 1st century A.D., man has been fascinated by metamorphoses, the intangible and identity. This exhibition in Rijksmuseum Twenthe uses quotations from Ovid’s magnum opus as a framework to show how contemporary artists reflect on these themes. The exhibition includes work by Juul Kraijer, Jan Fabre, Levi van Veluw and Stromae. 

Everything changes, nothing perishes

The Metamorphoses – Everything changes, nothing perishes is the title and motto of the Roman poet’s famous magnus opus. This collection of stories about mythical gods and figures that constantly transform and change shape is the very embodiment of the fact that everything in creation is constantly changing. The ‘metamorphose’ is about the elusive and the intangible; the moment of transformation in which something or someone transcends all categories. But it is also about ‘identity; it is a strategy to assume another role, to show another side of yourself, takes liberties or get something done.

Four categories

From Antiquity to the present day, painters, sculptors, theatre makers and writers have been fascinated by this theme. In contemporary art, fashion, theatre, dance and (pop) music, questions around change, identity and intangibility are more relevant than ever before. In the exhibition Metamorphoses these themes are illustrated through four categories: Man & Animal, Man & Technology, Man & Nature and Man & Woman.

Artists: The exhibition will show work from artists such as Bart Hess, Floris Kaayk, Imme van der Haak, Jaap Drupsteen, Jacco Olivier, Jan Fabre, Johanna Schweizer, Juul Kraijer, Laura Schapendonk, Levi van Veluw, Maartje Korstanje, Sabi van Hemert, Silvia B and Stromae.

www.rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl

Installation Collapsing cabinet, 2014
rijksmuseum Twente
rijksmuseum Twente