LONDON.- Saatchi Gallery, in collaboration with artist-curator Louise te Poele, V&A, SMAG Foundation, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom and with the support of the Mondriaan Fund, is presenting Standing on the Shoulders of Giants II: A Unique Dialogue Between Past and Present.

Research by the Guerrilla Girls revealed that less than 5% of artists in museums are women, while 85% of depicted nudes are female. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants II directly confronts this inequality by elevating female voices and creating new narratives.

Building on the immense success of the first edition, which highlighted the urgent need to increase visibility for female Dutch artists, this second iteration tackles a related challenge: the historical invisibility of female artists in museum collections. The exhibition examines whose shoulders contemporary artists stand on in this country, fostering a powerful dialogue between the past and present.

Both contemporary and historical female artists have long faced limited visibility. The V&A collection has a strength in works created by women and shares a dedication to addressing historical underrepresentation, making the collaboration particularly meaningful, as both institutions aim to elevate female voices across the centuries.

This unique exhibition showcases an unprecedented collaboration between Saatchi Gallery and the V&A. Working alongside Dr Rosalind McKever (Curator) and Damiët Schneeweisz (Assistant Curator) of Paintings and Drawings at the V&A, Louise te Poele and the artists have selected from the V&A's collection of paintings and drawings by women.

Each of the 10 Dutch female artists responded to a carefully selected piece from the V&A collection, creating influential new works that foster visual dialogues with female creators who preceded them. By visiting the V&A archives, the artists immersed themselves in the museum's collection, enabling their chosen historical works to inform their contemporary responses through deep engagement.

Damiët Schneeweisz, Assistant Curator of Paintings and Drawings at the V&A states: “It’s been wonderful seeing the V&A’s mission as a creative sourcebook for makers in action, and to witness the dialogues emerging between our historic works on paper collections, which are rich in women artists, and the work of present-day artists.

Louise te Poele, Artist-Curator reflects: “There’s something deeply moving about how my fellow female artists respond to the voices of women before them — echoing, challenging, and continuing their legacy in ways that feel both intimate and radical.”

Featured Artists

The exhibition showcases 10 contemporary Dutch female artists, spanning multiple generations and mediums.

• Painting: Lily de Bont (1958), Anya Janssen (1962), Bobbi Essers (2000)

• Sculpture: Femmy Otten (1981), Bregje Sliepenbeek (1986), Margriet van Breevoort (1990), Larissa Esvelt (1998)

• Digital sculpture and object design: Audrey Large (1994)

• Photography and installation: Louise te Poele (1984)