THE HAGUE.- Soon, for the first time in over 80 years, Piet Mondrian’s final paintings will be reunited in the Netherlands: the iconic Victory Boogie Woogie and Broadway Boogie Woogie. Influenced by the energy and music of New York City in the early 1940s, Mondrian carried out his most radical experiment with rhythm, colour and material. This joint effort from Kunstmuseum Den Haag and The Museum of Modern Art, New York will also include ten of Mondrian’s transatlantic works: paintings he brought with him from Europe to New York, where he added more ‘boogie-woogie’.

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Victory Boogie Woogie (1942-44) is a modern-art icon and the highlight of the world’s largest collection of Mondrian’s work, which can be found in Kunstmuseum Den Haag. The work was acquired by the State of the Netherlands in 1998. Since then, it has been in Kunstmuseum Den Haag on long-term loan from the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE). Broadway Boogie Woogie (1942-43) is part of the collection of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. During the darkest days of the war in Europe, Mondrian began creating works of hope. He worked on Victory Boogie Woogie and Broadway Boogie Woogie at the same time in his New York atelier. As soon as he finished Broadway, the painting was immediately acquired by MoMA. But the next year, in 1944, the artist died before he could complete Victory. The countless pieces of tape on the canvas show that Mondrian continued searching for the ultimate composition, down to the very last moment. The two works have been displayed together in the Netherlands only once before, in 1946.

‘We are tremendously proud and pleased to be able to put on this remarkable exhibition in cooperation with our partners MoMA, RCE and RKD, while in the process bringing together exceptional expertise and ground-breaking insights. The reunion of Mondrian’s final masterpieces is a unique moment for the Netherlands. Through this multisensory exhibition, which brings to life the impact of music and dance on Mondrian’s work, we are adding a new and unexpected chapter to his story. A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition you won’t want to miss.’ - Margriet Schavemaker, General Director of Kunstmuseum Den Haag

‘These two fascinating journeys—Mondrian’s and boogie woogie’s—are stories of migration, diaspora, encounter, and reimagination, and both are critical to our understanding of modernism. We are delighted to partner with the Kunstmuseum Den Haag on reuniting two of Mondrian’s most compelling and beloved works. Our collaboration has brought together curators, conservators, scholars and musicians to shed new light on Mondrian's late work.’- Leah Dickerman, Director, Research Programs, MoMA

Closer than ever

This exhibition is supported by in-depth technical research into the materials. The results will allow visitors to use augmented reality and high-tech 3-D replicas to explore the process of making the works, bringing them closer than ever before. Kunstmuseum will also display material from the artist's personal archives, documenting events such as his traumatic journey to New York when he fled London during World War II. Mondrian spent the entire journey on the deck of a ship that was part of a convoy being targeted by German U-boats. With rolled-up canvases and a life jacket strapped to his body, the artist endured a terrifying experience that left deep marks. Only after reaching the New York skyline was he able to relax and find the freedom to resume his artistic experimentation.

Café Society

The exhibition will also bring to life the legendary 'Café Society', which at the time was the only place in New York where Black and white people could mix both on stage and in the audience. Mondrian often came to the Café to dance. His nights there strengthened his love for boogie-woogie. This music style rooted in the African diaspora was to become a crucial source of inspiration for his work. It not only inspired the creation of Victory and Broadway Boogie Woogie, it also prompted him to rework several paintings he had brought from Europe. The exhibition invites visitors to discover (or rediscover) boogie-woogie for themselves and to dance among the artworks.


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