Van Abbemuseum presents ‘Parallel Lives, Parallel Aesthetics’
ISTANBUL
An exhibition, titled “Parallel Lives, Parallel Aesthetics: León Ferrari & Gülsün Karamustafa,” has recently opened at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven.
Curated by Charles Esche, Andrea Wain and Julieta Zamorano, the exhibition uniquely combines two solo exhibitions in their own right: A large retrospective spanning the life of Argentina’s most celebrated contemporary artist, León Ferrari, who died in 2013, plus a poignant overview of the work of contemporary Turkish artist Gülsün Karamustafa (1946, Ankara).
“Parallel Lives, Parallel Aesthetics” brings to the fore various convergences and intersections between the work and lives of Ferrari and Karamustafa, revealing to visitors the commonalities and connections between the two.
Both respond to governments that do not support freedom of speech: A situation characteristic of the issues facing many countries today, including Europe.
The exhibition is aligned with the Van Abbemuseum’s ambition and reputation for introducing artists of international renown to the Netherlands in a big way.
The work of Ferrari, titled “A Kind Cruelty,” was on display earlier this year at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid and will be on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in summer 2022.
Karamustafa’s work titled “After the Cosmopolis” will be on display at Lundskonsthall in Lund in 2022.
Along with parallels, there are also differences between the artists. Karamustafa reflects on male-female relations in Turkey and the loss of Istanbul’s multicultural climate. Ferrari responds to the influence of Western and Christian civilization on South America and dictatorship in Argentina. The exhibition includes never-before-seen pieces by the artist.
The exhibition is open to visitors until March 13, 2022.
