Experience a profound dialogue between historical and contemporary pieces at Kunstmuseum Basel. This exhibition juxtaposes works from the sixteenth century to the present, featuring artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger and Bruce Nauman. Visitors are invited to contemplate enduring human questions surrounding vulnerability, conflict, and transience through these powerful collections.
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for New Constellations at Kunstmuseum Basel – Gegenwart in Basel
New Constellations brings together artworks spanning from the sixteenth century to the present day, drawn from the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation collections. The exhibition explores challenging themes such as war, violence, destruction, and human transience through a transhistorical selection of pieces.
This exhibition presentation creates a space for reflection on themes of discomfort, vulnerability, and violence. By juxtaposing works from different eras, such as Hans Holbein the Younger’s memento mori motifs and modern critiques of power and suffering by artists like Bruce Nauman, Marianna Simnett, and Kaari Upson, the exhibition highlights the enduring nature of these questions across history. The central installation serves as a conceptual anchor, inviting visitors to consider how we perceive the past, the experiences of others, and those aspects of life that are often difficult to confront. The selection includes a wide array of historical and contemporary contributors whose works address the impact of forces on the body and society. From the stark war-related imagery of Niklaus Stoecklin and Lotti Krauss to the contemporary installations by Miriam Cahn, Jenny Holzer, and Thomas Struth, the works emphasize the ongoing relevance of human fragility. The exhibition aims not to provide simple resolutions, but to foster a critical dialogue about humanity's response to destruction and the shadows of our existence.
The exhibition is hosted at the Neubau location of the Kunstmuseum Basel. Please consult the museum's website for general admission and visit planning details to ensure entry requirements are met before your visit.
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for New Constellations at Kunstmuseum Basel – Gegenwart in Basel
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