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The renovated Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics reopens on 2 December 2017 with its largest ever exhibition of contemporary ceramics. The exhibition In Motion: Ceramic Reflections in Contemporary Art, showcases installations by internationally established artists and emerging talents. The works of Céleste Boursier-Mougenot (1961), Roger Hiorns (1975), Meekyoung Shin (1967), Claire Verkoyen (1959), Geng Xue (1983) and David Zink Yi (1973) confirm that the use of ceramics in art is flourishing around the world. In Motion can be seen until 6 May 2018.
The versatility of ceramics is explored in the exhibition In Motion. Six leading contemporary artists from the East and the West showcase existing and new work. The installations range from a life-size squid in a pool of ink to an immersive experience in which a bath with dozens of porcelain bowls lights up in a darkened room. None of these works have been exhibited in the Netherlands before.
In Motion
According to Tanya Rumpff, the curator of the exhibition, all of the works contain some form of movement. ‘Sometimes literally, such as Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s floating bowls, but sometimes less directly, as in the work of Meekyoung Shin, exhibited on transport crates. Above all, the title – In Motion – indicates that the development of ceramics in contemporary visual art continues apace. The exhibition shows that contemporary artists embrace ceramics and that it is no longer just an applied art form, but a fully-fledged artistic medium.’
Blurring the boundaries between art and ceramics
Art and ceramics meet in the exhibition In Motion. For example, Claire Verkoyen (Curaçao, 1959) has created an interdisciplinary installation consisting of ceramic computer prints on ultra-thin porcelain tiles, and 3D animations on screens. Emerging talent Geng Xue (China, 1983) also combines media. With the interaction between film and ceramics, she tries to develop a new language for a traditional material such as porcelain. Since early in her career, Xue’s work has been exhibited numerous times and she has won many awards, including for Mr. Sea, which is exhibited in In Motion.
A huge cloud of foam emerges from an earthenware vase in the piece by Roger Hiorns (Birmingham, 1975). In his work, nothing is what it seems. The fourth artist, Meekyoung Shin (South Korea, 1967), made replicas of Asian porcelain from soap for the Translation series. In addition, a ceramic squid by David Zink Yi (Peru, 1973) adorns the floor of the Princessehof. His work is regularly exhibited in museums such as the Williams College Museum of Art (Massachusetts) and the Museum for Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna.
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s (France, 1961) installation is the highlight of the exhibition. In 2015 he transformed the French pavilion of the Venice Biennale into an organic space in which sound, light and movement converged. He also plays on the senses with variations, an installation consisting of white porcelain bowls floating in a basin filled with intense blue water. It is coincidence that determines the composition, which is not only a feast for the eyes, but also an interplay of sound.
100 years of the princessehof
In 2017, the Princessehof will be 100 years old. The anniversary is celebrated with a completely new installation of the permanent collection and a major renovation of the entrance area and garden, as well as with a number of remarkable new exhibitions. Besides In Motion, contemporary art and design enthusiasts can visit the second floor of the museum for two exhibitions of new works by artist Johan Tahon and designer Floris Wubben. In addition, the museum presents a new EKWC@Princessehof exhibition with Caroline Coolen. On 9 October 2017, the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics temporarily closed its doors for the final phase of the renovation. The renewed Princessehof will reopen to the public on 2 December 2017.