From 2 April to 25 June, BRUTUS, Rotterdam’s artist-driven playground, presents the most sensitive and uncomfortable exhibition yet: Through Bone and Marrow. On an area of some 6000 m2, twenty renowned artists will show new and alternative connections between humans, nature and technology. Through Bone and Marrow is a subtle wake-up call: the exhibition showcases a new aesthetic with room for discomfort, imperfection and the beauty of decay. Curator is a ‘mood collector’ and stylist Maarten Spruyt. Seeking to reflect the zeitgeist, he succeeds in creating unity in diversity.

Mirte van Laarhoven
Mirte van Laarhoven

Through Bone and Marrow feels like one big organism. Visitors are allowed in only one at a time and are given heartfelt advice: forget your phone and your diary, and experience the space with all your senses. The exhibition tickles your nerves, crawls into your bones, enchants your eyes, and squeaks into your ears and nose.

Maarten Spruyt: “Art can put its finger on the sore spot and offer a view of what is to come, of a new aesthetic. The raw environment of BRUTUS possesses exactly the right atmosphere for this. It is a place where you can wander around independently and let the exhibition’s sensitivity and discomfort affect you undisturbed.”

Through Bone and Marrow includes works by the following artists:
Zimoun, Maarten Vanden Eynde, Frank Bruggeman, Mirte van Laarhoven, Atelier Van Lieshout, Nick Ervinck, Jan Hüskes, Joris Strijbos, Ossip, Nick van Woert, Maartje Korstanje, Vladimir Zbynovsky, Jan Eric Visser, Nacho Carbonell, Ernest Bessems, Hedwich Rooks, Zhao Zhou, Quintus Glerum and Amrith de Zoete. Dyane Donck Company provides sound compositions.

This exhibition has been made possible in part by:
Municipality of Rotterdam, Rabobank Coöperatiefonds, Mondriaan Fonds, Stichting Volkskracht, Stichting Zabawas, Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot, Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds/Breeman Talle Fonds, Museum Jan Cunen and Fleur Groenendijk Foundation.
Special thanks to: European Metal Recycling, PRO Alloy, Stichting Voedseltuin Rotterdam, GRIMM Gallery and Stadsbeheer Rotterdam.

About BRUTUS Artist-Driven Playground
BRUTUS is the largest presentation space of contemporary art in the Netherlands. As an artist-driven playground, the foundation offers artists space, time and freedom to experiment, perform and exhibit on a huge scale. A place to dream big and build even bigger.

BRUTUS emerged from AVL Mundo, a non-profit organisation founded by Joep van Lieshout in 2008. With AVL Mundo, Van Lieshout allowed artists to develop and exhibit their work without the usual restrictions. At the same time, BRUTUS realises an ambitious cultural programme with various partners such as MOMO Fabrique, O. Festival for Opera, Music, Theatre, And Roffa Mon Amour; since 2019, BRUTUS has awarded an annual prize to innovative contemporary art.

BRUTUS, located in the former industrial port complex (6000m2) on Keileweg, includes exhibition spaces, the BRUTUS Lab (including an artist-in-residency) and the BRUTUS Garden (with work by Atelier Van Lieshout)

Ernest Bessems

Through Bone and Marrow: from 2 April to 25 June 2023
Opening hours: Thursday – Sunday 12:00 – 18:00
Address: Keileweg 10, Rotterdam
Tickets: €5 (online or at the box office, PIN only)
CJP/Rotterdam Pass: €2.50 (online or at the box office upon presentation of the pass, PIN only)
We Are Public: free (online or at the box office, on presentation of pass)
More information: Through Bone and Marrow (brutus.co.uk)
Click here for route options to BRUTUS