MAASTRICHT.- The exhibition CERAMIX is on display in the Bonnefantenmuseum until 31 January. In collaboration with Cité de la céramique (Sèvres – F) and la Maison Rouge (Paris – F), the Bonnefantenmuseum is presenting a selection of over 250 highlights of ceramic art from international museum and private collections (e.g. Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Museo Internazionale della ceramica in Faenza, Petit Palais in Paris, Marck Larock-Granoff, Isabelle Maeght, Alain Tarica and Luciano Benetton). In spring 2016, the exhibition will travel on to Paris and Sèvres.

CERAMIX is the first exhibition to focus on the relationship between art and ceramics from the early 20th century to the present. The exhibition is curated by guest curators Camille Morineau and Lucia Pesapane, who have previously worked together on exhibitions of Gerhard Richter, Roy Lichtenstein, Niki de Saint Phalle and elles@centrepompidou.

CERAMIX
The use of ceramic as a sculptural medium has really taken off in the 21st century and made an indelible mark on the art world. How can we explain this revival? Where and when did ceramics gain influence in the work of painters and sculptors? In which styles, movements, countries and production centres did this art form originate? These questions form the basis of CERAMIX. The layout of the exhibition is both chronological and thematic. For instance, one of the rooms gives a chronological overview of the use of ceramics in the art history of Europe, the United States and Japan. Other rooms focus on various themes, such as The origin of ceramic sculpture, with works by artists like Rodin and Gauguin, the Otis group from California, with artists like Ken Price and John Mason, and Falling vases, breaking plates, with works by Picasso, Ai Weiwei, Anne Wenzel and Edmund de Waal. Finally, there are a number of monograph rooms that have been created in close cooperation with the artists: Katinka Bock, Johan Creten, Eduardo Chillida & Antoni Tàpies, Leiko Ikemura, Klara Kristalova, Luigi Ontani, Elsa Sahal and Thomas Schütte.

Maastricht
Twenty years ago, the Bonnefanten building, designed by Aldo Rossi, was built on the manufacturing premises of Société Céramique. Special attention is being paid to the products from this factory in the Bonnefantenmuseum, in a presentation of works by artist-designers including Edmond Bellefroid, Charles Vos, Johan Lint, Henri Breetvelt and Henri Verstijnen. In collaboration with Vereniging Maastrichts Aardewerk, the museum is setting up a study project to make an inventory of the thousands of pieces of pottery in the Polling collection. This collection was donated to the museum by the collector couple Aak and Arie Polling, from Voorschoten, in 1993. Museum visitors can follow this inventory project live in one of the museum rooms.