Marlene Dumas's Open-End Exhibition at Palazzo Grassi, Venice
Marlene Dumas's exhibition 'Open End' at Palazzo Grassi in Venice spans 33 rooms, featuring works from small drawings to large canvases. The show addresses themes of politics, anthropology, love, sexuality, disease, death, racism, and mysticism. Key works include 'Hierarchy' inspired by Nagisa Ōshima's film, 'The Particularity of Nakedness' depicting her partner Jan Andriesse, and 'Lovesick' referencing 'The Crucifixion'. The exhibition opens with provocative pieces like 'Tongues' and 'Awkward', and closes with dark works such as 'Straitjacket', 'Blindfolded', and 'The Death of the Author'. A circular narrative is suggested by 'Losing (Her Meaning)' and 'Red Moon', the latter inspired by Millais's Ophelia. The exhibition includes a catalog, a room-by-room guide, and a two-episode podcast in three languages. Dumas, born in Cape Town in 1953 during Apartheid, aims for her paintings to resemble poetry.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Open End' at Palazzo Grassi, Venice
- 33 rooms featuring works by Marlene Dumas
- Works range from 24x30 cm to 300x100 cm
- Themes include politics, anthropology, love, sexuality, disease, death, racism, mysticism
- 'Hierarchy' inspired by Nagisa Ōshima's film 'In the Realm of the Senses'
- 'The Particularity of Nakedness' depicts Jan Andriesse
- 'Lovesick' references 'The Crucifixion'
- Exhibition opens with 'Tongues', 'Awkward', 'The Gate', 'Fingers', 'Miss Pompadour'
- Closes with 'Straitjacket', 'Blindfolded', 'The Death of the Author'
- 'Losing (Her Meaning)' and 'Red Moon' create a circular narrative
- 'Red Moon' inspired by Millais's Ophelia
- Catalog, guide, and two-episode podcast produced
- Podcast in three languages
- Guide compiled by Dumas, Jolie van Leeuwen, and Roger Willems
- Dumas born in Cape Town, 1953, during Apartheid
Entities
Artists
- Marlene Dumas
- Jan Andriesse
- Nagisa Ōshima
- John Everett Millais
- Bruno Racine
- Jolie van Leeuwen
- Roger Willems
- Giorgia Basili
Institutions
- Palazzo Grassi
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Cape Town
- South Africa