The exhibit stems in fact from the notion that the 1980s were a turning point in the relationship between government, culture, art and the public sphere, all across Europe, and that we're still experiencing the ripples of the societal changes and cultural turmoil that sparked during those years.
In order to encompass the complexity of the topic, the show is articulated in six parts with as many curatorial teams. The Van Abbe’s own Franssen and Aikens present an overview of 80s Dutch counter-culture and black art in the UK, respectively, while the other sections were developed by other members of L’Internationale: Zdenka Badovinac (Moderna galerija, Ljubljana), Merve Elveren (SALT, Istanbul), Teresa Grandas (MACBA, Barcelona) and Fefa Vila Núñez (an independent researcher and collaborator of Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid). Visitors coming after July 2 will get a different experience than those attending up to mid-June, as the Slovenian chapter will be replaced with the Turkish and Spanish ones, in a program rotation that confirms how much substance the teams are showcasing for the show.
until 25 September 2016
The 80s: Today’s Beginnings
Van Abbemuseum