Ulay Was Here: Retrospective at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam has opened 'Ulay Was Here', the first major retrospective of Frank Uwe Laysiepen (1943–2020), known as Ulay, since his death in March 2020. Featuring 200 works, many previously unexhibited, the show traces his career as a pioneer of Polaroid photography and a key figure in body art and performance. Ulay's practice explored identity through self-portraiture, using his body to investigate gender and otherness, as seen in the Polaroid series 'S'he' where he appears half-man, half-woman. His photography became increasingly performative, leading to series like 'FOTOTOT' (1975–76) and the action 'Irritation – There Is a Criminal Touch to Art' (1976). He is also renowned for collaborations with Marina Abramović, including 'Relation in Space' (1976 Venice Biennale), 'Imponderabilia' (1976, Bologna), 'Rest Energy' (1980), and their farewell on the Great Wall of China. The exhibition examines four key themes: performance and performative photography; identity and the body as medium; social and political engagement; and his relationship with Amsterdam, where he lived for four decades. It includes photographs, Polaroids (black-and-white and color), sculptures, video and photo projections of performances, and documentary material. The show runs until April 18, 2021.