Berlinde De Bruyckere's 'Same Old, Same Old' Exhibition at Galleria Continua Revisits Two Decades of Work

Belgian sculptor Berlinde De Bruyckere presents 'Same Old, Same Old' at Galleria Continua in San Gimignano through April 19, 2025. The exhibition features works originally created for Frieze Masters in London, where artists were invited to revisit pieces from twenty years prior. De Bruyckere's practice explores the human body, fragility, and suffering through recurring motifs like cages, blankets, and fragmented anthropomorphic forms. A concurrent publication from the Ori series accompanies the show. Galleria Continua co-founder Lorenzo Fiaschi describes the project as a valuable exercise for artists to reflect on their past creations. The display includes early ink drawings from 1987, the Kooi series cages from 1989, and iconic installations like Slaapzaal IV (2000) and Spreken (1999). De Bruyckere notes that returning to these works felt timely given current global circumstances, with themes of migration, cruelty, and suffering resonating anew. The exhibition occupies an ancient apartment with weathered walls overlooking the medieval town square. Other featured works include Zonder Titel (1989), Zonder Titel II (2000-2025), and the lead rose installation I never promised you a rose garden (1992). The artist references Giorgione's 'Dead Christ Supported by an Angel' as a key influence on her early 'angels of death' paintings. De Bruyckere's recent installation City of Refuge III at the 2024 Venice Biennale in the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore continues her exploration of angelic themes. The Galleria Continua location in San Gimignano also hosts simultaneous exhibitions by Cuban artist Yoan Capote (Ruido Blanco) and Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova (Instrument).