Long Live Sculpture!

The Middelheim Museum in Antwerp presents the group exhibition Long Live Sculpture!. Eleven national and international artists give a current interpretation of the sculptural discipline.

Lately, things have been moving in the realm of sculpture. For a while, it seemed banished from the museum to the public space. Furthermore, it threatened to become unrecognisable, as practically all other artistic genres had three-dimensional ambitions: think of the spatial ways of presenting video-art or conceptual installations. But today it re-conquers its own unique identity. And it unmistakably claims its place next to painting and other means of expression as a discipline that might take on many forms, but nonetheless is very much alive. The Middelheim Museum wants to give this development the attention it deserves.

The participating artists were not only invited because they give sculpture an intriguing contemporary face. They were also asked to reflect on the theme of “consolation”. In response, some of them created a whole new piece, while for others it was part of what they had been doing for years.

Consolation is something we have all experienced. The artist deals with it in his own way, foremost weighing this question: does he choose to console his public, or will he deny them any consolation at all?

Long Live Sculpture! gathers a great variety among the artists. Some have worked with more traditional materials such as wood or bronze, others went to work with silicone and polyester. Nature was a source of inspiration, but so were comics and Hollywood movies. Some of the pieces are gigantic, others very small. Together, these works of art make a titillating exhibition.

Artists: JEONGHWA CHOI (KO) - KATHARINA FRITSCH (D) - FOLKERT DE JONG (NL) - PHILIP METTEN (B) - YOSHITOMO NARA (J) - PATRICIA PICCININI (AUS) - THOMAS RENTMEISTER (D) - PETER ROGIERS (B) - THOMAS SCHÜTTE (D) - RICKY SWALLOW (AUS) - ISKENDER YEDILER (D)

Pressetext

The Middelheim Museum presents
Long Live Sculpture!

mit Jeonghwa Choi, Katharina Fritsch, Folkert de Jong, Philip Metten, Yoshitomo Nara, Patricia Piccinini, Thomas Rentmeister, Peter Rogiers, Thomas Schütte, Ricky Swallow, Iskender Yediler