Never seen before – for three weeks, seven days a week, 1st – 23rd August, ten hours a day – you can drive in your car through the large dark hall of Ahoy in search of masterpieces from the Boijmans museum collection
Rotterdam Ahoy and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen jointly developed a unique, strange, attractive, corona-proof plan during this special time. Ahoy makes its location available, Boijmans the artworks; together they make a special experience, a first offered to Rotterdam. More than forty works from the collection are displayed in the 10,000 m2 event hall, which 750 visitors per day drive through in electric cars. A brand new experience.
A new start for Rotterdam
Corona taught us that a city without art life is as dead as a pier. Silent theaters, no performing arts, no excitement in the exhibition halls. Festivals a fading memory. Art life takes place between the sliding doors and on the screens at home. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has now been “in lockdown” for more than a year and is looking for a way to the public through neighbors, schools and internationally, also in the post covid-19 era. Rotterdam, the city with a flourishing art life, is longing for a new start.
Sjarel Ex, Director Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: “We are intensely pleased that everyone has embraced this plan throughout the museum and that we have been able to create such a beautiful project in a very short time and with funds and sponsors that have been quickly brought together in collaboration with Ahoy. We long for this event that promises action and contemplation, fun and contemplation, excitement and surprise. ” Jolanda Jansen, General Manager Rotterdam Ahoy is pleased with this initiative: “We live in a tough and special time at the same time. It is great to see how this unique idea and this collaboration came about. Through creativity and with the will of both parties and many partners who support it, we offer the general public a once in a lifetime experience next month. ”
The exhibition
In Hall 1 of Ahoy, a space the size of almost one and a half football field, the artworks are arranged as if in a course. The hall is minimally lit and shone by the headlights of the cars driving through it at a walking pace. Visitors experience the drive-thru exhibition from their own cocoon in the car. Strangely enough, the means of transport in which people now feel safe. The exhibition has a cheerful form with a serious undertone. Nature gives us a signal without equal. A hard stop caused by a small virus that no one has an answer to, that is all around the world and creates fear. At the same time, this signal is also a moment of reconsideration and the search for the reset button. New insights emerge. This exhibition is about the complex relationship between man and nature: an interweaving of mutual vulnerability. We show art in a time when we need to engage in a different social interaction, in a total experience with man and machine. The exhibition is based on an idea by Ted Noten. In addition to some world-famous works from the Boijmans Van Beuningen collection, the exhibition also shows installations by contemporary artists that make Rotterdam an art city and make us reflect on how people relate to their natural environment. ‘Boijmans Ahoy drive-thru museum’ brings together work by: Ted Noten, Oskar Kokoschka, Bas Jan Ader, Melanie Smith, Paul McCarthy, Bruce Nauman, Ugo Rondinone, Cyprien Gaillard, Joep van Lieshout, Wieki Somers, Jim Shaw and installations by Bas Princen, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Anselm Kiefer, Olaf Nicolai, Marijke van Warmerdam.
By car
The exhibition is only accessible by electric car. Own e-cars are welcome. There are also enough electric cars available to switch. The Rotterdam car dealer Breeman BMW & MINI makes this available. Work is currently underway on trips for Rotterdam children to this exhibition. Management, safety and logistics are organized by Rotterdam Ahoy. Visitors pay per person. A large discount applies to Rotterdampas holders.
Partners
Rotterdam Ahoy and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen have joined forces to organize an unforgettable exhibition in these exceptional times. Indispensable for the realization of this exhibition were the contributions of our loyal partners and dear sponsors; BankGiro Loterij and all its participants, Mondriaan Fund, Fonds 21, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Boijmans Business Club, Riwal Hoogwerkers, Breeman BMW & MINI, Rotterdam Make it Happen and the Municipality of Rotterdam.
