Human After All

Most of these works have never been seen in the Netherlands before. With: William Cobbing (1974, Great-Britain), artist duo Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg (1978, Sweden), Leiko Ikemura (1951, Japan), Klara Kristalova (1967, Czech Republic), Kris Lemsalu (1985, Estonia), Sharon van Overmeiren (1985, Belgium), Liliana Porter (1941, Argentina), Mariken Wessels (1963, The Netherlands) and Geng Xue (1983, China). 

La condition humaine
The exhibition, curated by Tanya Rumpff, appeals to primary, almost animalistic traits. The sculptures and installations by a diverse group of artists comment on the difficulties of life, for example, the characters in the video work of Djurberg and Berg, who are either powerful or subservient. William Cobbing's work shows people trying to get closer together, but the clay separates them, obstructing contact. At first sight, Liliana Porter's installation seems endearing. But take a closer look at the havoc wreaked by the cute miniature people and discover a deeper layer of creation and destruction. In the tree of life by the young, up-and-coming artist Kris Lemsalu, smaller characters grow out of the hands of the main character, symbolic of the cycle of life. Just like Lemsalu, Sharon van Overmeiren draws inspiration from folk cultures. At first her sculptures seem familiar, but they are difficult to define.

Interdisciplinary
Artists interpret different facets of this subject – human shortcomings – using the field that is pre-eminently human: ceramics. Throughout the ages until the present day, ceramicists have literally left their fingerprints on their creations. One example is the leading Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura: for her, the material is intrinsic to her philosophy. She reflects on her own femininity with her human figures, a recent painting, two drawings and a film. With her sculptures, photographs and video work local talent Mariken Wessels presents the beauty of the corpulent body in motion.

In addition to ceramics, film and photography are used in surprising ways. The films of Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg are an intriguing mix of clay figures, music and animation. In this exhibition they screen a new film about greed, among other subjects. Works by this leading artist duo are included in the collections of the Prada Foundation in Milan and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others.
Geng Xue, whose work was included in In Motion at the Princessehof in 2017, is also creating an international furore with her animated films. The human figures in her work are marked by trauma, struggle or temptation, but also by desire and hope. She exhibits the work The Name of Gold, which was extremely successful at the Venice Biennale (2019).

Finally, Klara Kristalova fills the last room with three islands consisting of moss, ferns and other plants. Life-size animal and human figures guard the islands. Together with internationally renowned florist Thierry Boutemy and a company specialised in interior landscaping, Kristalova creates an impressive horticultural design with living greenery. The choice of plants is inspired by the flora in the forest where Kristalova's workshop is located.