Bijbels Museum Reflects on 'EXODUS' Exhibition: Contemporary Art and Urgent Stories in Amsterdam
From March 24 to September 24, 2023, the Bijbels Museum presented "EXODUS: Contemporary art, urgent stories," a major group exhibition. This showcase took place not at the museum's main location but within the former monastery of Buitenplaats Doornburgh in Maarssen. The exhibition invited visitors to explore modern interpretations of the ancient Exodus narrative through a diverse collection of artworks.
The exhibition garnered positive attention, with one review in De Volkskrant noting the impressive diversity on display. Artworks ranged from sculpture and video to textile and oil painting, featuring a mix of emerging artists, such as Szu-Han Lin, alongside established painters like Sam Drukker (1957). Guest book entries reflected the sentiment, praising the "magnificent exhibition in a beautiful setting" and the "extraordinary exhibition in a monumental building."
Exploring the Exhibition's Unique Setting and Diverse Artistry
"EXODUS" was designed to be dynamic in both form and content, guiding visitors through the monastery's cloister corridors, small cabinets, and large halls. The display provided space for intimate and personal expressions, including Eva Spierenburg's delicate collages and Szu-Han Lin's fragile paper waterfall reflecting her own emigration story.
In contrast, the exhibition also featured expansive spatial installations that fully enveloped visitors. Examples included Antonio Jose Guzman's critical textile installation and AnneMarie van Splunter's evocative sea of salt mountains. The show highlighted a broad spectrum of artistic perspectives from artists residing or working in the Netherlands.
Artists such as Mario Sergio Alvarez, Fatima Barznge, Celine van den Boorn, Airco Caravan, Anook Cléonne, Loes Groothuis, Esther Hoogendijk, Jaasir Linger, Mehdi Mashayekhi, Joyce Overheul, Marieke Ploeg, Sybren Renema, Hanan Saif, Gurt Swanenberg, Alydia Wever, and videographers Zhixin Liao & Bernardo Beirão, Thom van Rijckevorsel, and Roosje Verschoor contributed to the exhibition. Additionally, Monika Dahlberg, Wianda Keizer, and Cecilia Rebergen created new site-specific works as artists in residence.
The Open Call and Curatorial Vision
The foundation of the "EXODUS" exhibition was an Open Call that drew over 700 submissions. A curatorial committee, including Raul Balai, Rikko Voorberg, and Onno Zijlstra, along with chair Yuki Kho, curated a selection lauded for its quantity and high quality. Kho commented on the challenge and reward of selecting works across different disciplines and backgrounds, aiming to tell a polyphonic story that addressed urgent contemporary societal issues.
Engaging with EXODUS Beyond the Physical Exhibition
For those interested in exploring the themes and artworks further, a dedicated website, www.exodus.nu, offers additional content. This includes an online exhibition showcasing 60 entries from the Open Call.
The website also hosts two podcast series:
- "EXODUS de Expo" is a four-part series where Lotte van Gaalen and Babette Rijkhoff delve into four artworks from the exhibition, connecting the ancient Exodus story to contemporary life. Topics include "Asjera's return" by Marieke Ploeg, "Mama Aisa tyari a boskopu kon" by Jaasir Linger, "When are you truly free?" by Macha van der Hurk and makers from the Pauluskerk, and "Searching for home" by Mehdi Mashayekhi.
- "EXODUS Files" features theater director Jörgen Tjon A Fong and public theologian Janneke Stegeman in studio conversations with guests like Senad Alic, Marrit Jellema, Linda Nooitmeer, Marianne van Praag, and Mehmet Yamali. These 30-minute discussions explore the contemporary relevance of the Exodus narratives from Christian, Jewish, and Islamic perspectives, touching on slavery history, liberation, addiction, and the concept of a promised land.
The "EXODUS" project was a collaboration between the Bijbels Museum and Buitenplaats Doornburgh, supported by contributions from several partners, including the Mondriaan Fund, Vermeulen Brauckman Foundation, Fonds 21, and Cultuurfonds.
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