ROTTERDAM.- This autumn, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen presents Beyond Surrealism, a group exhibition with six internationally renowned artists: Kerstin Brätsch (Germany 1979), Monster Chetwynd (UK 1973), Laure Prouvost (France 1978), Tai Shani (UK 1976), Emma Talbot (UK 1969) and Raphaela Vogel (Germany 1988). Each has chosen works from the museum’s collection to be shown in dialogue with their own work, and several have produced new works for the exhibition. Because Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is the only museum in the Netherlands with a world-class collection of Surrealist art, it is the natural venue for such an exploration of the connections between this movement and contemporary art.

In the exhibition

This visually impressive exhibition will stimulate visitors’ urge to think critically about social issues and to look differently at the world around us. Beyond Surrealism will surprise visitors by showing masterpieces from the museum’s collection in combination with contemporary art, encouraging visitors to think outside the box.

"In today’s uncertain and volatile world, many contemporary artists are inspired by Surrealism’s imaginative power and the desire for alternative realities, even if they do not call themselves Surrealists. The six artists in the exhibition use their imagination to address current social issues such as gender, identity, feminism and climate change and to offer fresh perspectives in a complex world in which natural disasters, war and inequality dominate the news. " --- Saskia van Kampen-Prein, curator of modern and contemporary art at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, explains the concept

Surrealism

The first Surrealist manifesto was published just over a hundred years ago, in 1924. Since then, countless artists from all over the world have been inspired by Surrealism’s heritage and have explored its ideas through poetry and the visual arts. In this sense, Surrealism not a closed chapter in art history but is a living world view, sensibility and mentality.