Tilda Swinton's "Ongoing" Exhibition and Retrospective Programme Lands at Eye Filmmuseum Amsterdam
The Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam is set to host an expansive programme celebrating the work and collaborations of Scottish artist and performer Tilda Swinton. Titled "Tilda Swinton – Ongoing," the event features a unique exhibition, an extensive film retrospective, and a series of live conversations with her artistic partners. This major focus on Swinton's creative influence will run from September 28, 2025, to February 8, 2026.
Exploring Tilda Swinton's Creative Collaborations
The heart of "Tilda Swinton – Ongoing" is a deeply personal exhibition that highlights Swinton's long-standing creative partnerships. It brings together new and existing works by eight close friends and artistic collaborators, including Pedro Almodóvar, Luca Guadagnino, Joanna Hogg, Derek Jarman, Jim Jarmusch, Olivier Saillard, Tim Walker, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. This marks a significant moment as Eye Filmmuseum dedicates such comprehensive attention to a performer's artistic impact.
Visitors can expect diverse installations, such as a new short film and sculpture by Luca Guadagnino, and "Flat 19," a multimedia reconstruction of Swinton's 1980s London apartment co-created with Joanna Hogg. Jim Jarmusch will transform footage from his film The Dead Don’t Die into a new installation, while Olivier Saillard will stage a multi-day performance bringing Swinton's personal wardrobe to life. Photographer Tim Walker and filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul offer photo series and meditative installations inspired by Swinton’s home and ancestry. Pedro Almodóvar's short film The Human Voice will be shown in an installation format, and a tribute to Derek Jarman will feature a segment from The Last of England alongside personal objects and unseen Super 8 footage. More details can be found on the museum's dedicated page for the exhibition eyefilm.nl/TildaSwinton.
Extensive Film Retrospective and Director Spotlights
Complementing the exhibition, the museum's cinemas will present a comprehensive film programme of over forty titles. This retrospective spans Swinton’s versatile career, showcasing her work across genres from underground and cult films to family features and science fiction. Each screening will be preceded by short films personally selected by Swinton from the Eye collection and her own archives.
The programme also features dedicated retrospectives for two directors who have been profoundly influential in Swinton's career: Derek Jarman and Joanna Hogg. A childhood friend, Hogg directed Swinton in her graduation film Caprice and later in the critically acclaimed trilogy The Souvenir (2019), The Souvenir Part II (2021), and The Eternal Daughter (2022). Derek Jarman, who gave Swinton her first film role in Caravaggio (1986), became a mentor and muse, collaborating with her on seven feature films. Eye Filmmuseum will also rerelease Caravaggio in cinemas nationwide.
Live Discussions with Artistic Partners
Throughout the exhibition period, Eye Filmmuseum will host a series of "Conversations and Specials" offering deeper insights into Swinton's life and work. These events will feature Swinton in discussion with many of her featured co-creators, exploring their shared artistic processes.
Confirmed conversations include:
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Olivier Saillard focusing on film, art, and costuming.
- Tilda Swinton - Changes: Oeuvre Talk where she shares insights from various collaborations.
- Remembering Derek Jarman + Bliss (live performance Blue) with composer Simon Fisher Turner.
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Luca Guadagnino discussing their collaborations across four films.
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Pedro Almodóvar about their recent collaborations on The Human Voice and The Room Next Door.
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Apichatpong Weerasethakul exploring their long friendship and projects like Memoria.
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Joanna Hogg delving into how their life paths and relationships have shaped their work.
- Tilda Swinton in Conversation with Jim Jarmusch reflecting on their extensive collaborations across several films.
These conversations are planned to be recorded and made available online for later viewing.
Visitors planning to experience this unique celebration of Tilda Swinton's artistry are encouraged to check the Eye Filmmuseum's official channels for programming updates and ticketing information. To explore other cultural institutions in the city, browse more museums or discover various cultural spots on the map via Musemap (musemap.art).
