The stories we tell

History is a story that’s constantly in motion, and always open to reinterpretation. The stories we tell shows art as a catalyst for change. The artists in this exhibition shed light on society from their own personal perspectives. Their stories are about the human condition – about the complexities, contradictions and possibilities of our time. They expose underlying structures and challenge us to rethink what we have taken for granted. 

By bringing together a diverse range of works by artists, The stories we tell creates space for new perspectives and invites us to look critically – and with a fresh perspective – at the world around us, so that we can shape our future more consciously. 

What stories are worth telling? And what kind of world do we want to live in? 

Recent acquisitions

The exhibition also features some recent acquisitions by Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, such as House of Fools (Witte) by German artist Anne Wenzel. This bust of Witte Corneliszoon de With appears to be damaged and stands on a shaky plinth – expressing Wenzel’s response to monuments of controversial figures from our colonial past. The museum also acquired The City, a large work by Spanish artist Susanna Inglada, a combination of collage art and drawings. This piece was materialised with the support of the Mondriaan Fund. The work reflects Inglada’s vision of the emancipation of women, power struggles and the reversal of traditional role patterns. 

In addition to these acquisitions, there are works on display that haven’t been exhibited by Boijmans since the museum building was closed for renovation back in 2019. For example, visitors can (re)acquaint themselves with the impressive 4.5M Mrs Gate by British artist Paul Noble. On one hand, this work shows the influence of humankind on the environment – by means of fences dividing and ordering landscapes. But the organic shapes also refer to nature itself. 

Musical interpretation

DJ and music composer Ays has compiled a mixtape for the exhibition, which offers a musical interpretation of the works in The stories we tell. She combines various genres, from disco and house to jazz and funk. For this occasion, she selected music that creates a deep listening experience, with the emotion and layering that characterize her style. 

Featured artists

The stories we tell showcases works by Alex Israel, Anselm Kiefer, Andro Wekua, Anne Wenzel, Cady Noland, David Claerbout, Duane Hanson, George Segal, Kara Walker, Mike Kelley, Paul Noble, Susanna Inglada, Suchan Kinoshita and Tal R. 

Accessibility

General information about accessibility in and around the Depot can be found here.  

  Additional information about this exhibition: 

• The stories we tell is located on the fifth floor of the Depot. This floor can be reached by elevator. 

• In the exhibition, a 3 cm high wooden floor has been installed on top of the concrete floor. The edges of this floor are not marked or marked. The works of art are sunk into the raised floor and can be viewed from there. A ramp has been installed at the entrance and exit, so that the floor can be easily accessed with a wheelchair or walker, for example. 

• In the last part of the exhibition, there is a dark room where a video is shown. The visitor reaches the exit via this room. If you do not want to enter the dark room, you can leave the exhibition by returning to the entrance. 

• At the beginning of the exhibition, an exhibition guide in large font will be available in both Dutch and English. 

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