H’ART Museum and Centre Pompidou are now preparing the upcoming exhibition in Amsterdam: Kandinsky. Today, one of the key pieces arrived at the museum. Mit dem Schwarzen Bogen (1912) is a key example of the artist’s idea to strive for ‘autonomous’ art; detached from the figurative world, freed from any reference to reality. All leading towards the important role that Kandinsky played in the renewal of painting, pioneering abstract art. This specific painting shows the artist’s development in a crucial period, that of Der Blaue Reiter. An artist group that rocked the art world with their ideas and expressive paintings full of bright colors. Several other works from this period will soon be on display in Amsterdam as well, including Improvisation III (1909) and Bild mit Rotem Fleck (1914).
The Kandinsky exhibition will be on show from Wednesday 19 June until Sunday 10 November 2024.
Mit dem Schwarzen Bogen
In this large square masterpiece (189 x 198 cm), three continents are brought together with color, and they form a triangle. Held in place by a thick black line reminiscent of a ‘doega’. An arch-shaped piece of wood used to harness three horses for a Russian troika (sledge). With this work, Kandinsky shows that the construction of a painting can be based on detaching lines and colors from their original form and on disorder rather than harmony. The forms seem to be colliding with each other at every moment. This grand idea of dissonance (discord), which he discovered in the musical compositions of his friend Arnold Schönberg, is central to his work from 1908 to 1914.
About the exhibition
Kandinsky is the first exhibition of the new H’ART Museum in collaboration with one of its permanent museum partners for the coming years, Centre Pompidou. The Paris art museum houses the most complete Kandinsky collection in the world. Therefrom more than 60 artworks have been selected. Together they provide an impressive overview of the artist’s oeuvre. From his early figurative, almost impressionist work to the signature abstract paintings, which later evolved into more organic and hybrid forms on canvas. Visitors will get to know the artist and his work through a unique collection, photography, film and his biography. Two contemporary artists have been asked to highlight some specific storylines. Bink van Vollenhoven (1983) and Søren Siebel (1981) aim to uncover Kandinsky’s current significance and inspire audiences to look at the collection with different eyes. Tickets for the exhibition can be booked online at hartmuseum.nl.
The new H’ART Museum and the Kandinsky exhibition will be officially opened by His Majesty the King on Tuesday 18 June 2024 (press can request accreditation).
Note to editors, not for publication
Images can be downloaded at hartmuseum.nl/press. For special image requests, please contact us at [email protected].
The press opening of the Kandinsky exhibition is on Monday, June 17, at 10am. Please register at [email protected].
Contact H’ART Museum
Press and marketing communications department
Madeline van Vliet, Fleur Vroegindewey & Stella Küçüksen
+31 (0)20 530 87 55/ [email protected]