Sarkis in the Submarine Wharf - Ballads

An installation full of sound and color

You enter the immense space of the Submarine Wharf via a small door. You can wander through the installation on foot or explore the installation on one of the bicycles covered in white down feathers. The bicycles are arranged under a 16-meter lampshade in which a spotlight rises and falls to the rhythm of the artist’s breathing. The space is filled with the sound of a carillon with 43 bells, suspended from an architectural construction of 18 enormous tree trunks. The carillon plays the work ‘Litany for the Whale’ by avant-garde composer John Cage (1912-1992). The composition, based on the call of two whales, suggests allusions to the history of the wharf, which was once used for building submarines. The connection between the past and present is a recurring them in Sarkis’ work.

The Futuro, a futuristic holiday home from the museum’s collection, has landed in the wharf, providing the setting for Sarkis’ extraordinary films, which explore subtle changes in form and colour. At the end of the exhibition, just before the exit, Sarkis asks you to give something in return for a wonderful experience.

At the entrance to the installation you will receive a complimentary booklet about the artist and the themes explored in ‘Ballads’. The work 'Litany for the whale', played by carillon player Frank Steijns, can be downloaded here.

Satellite exhibition in the museum

To coincide with the installation in Rotterdam’s docklands, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is exhibiting new works by Sarkis. The museum is displaying 96 watercolours by the artist, based on the score of John Cage’s work ‘Ryoanji’. Sarkis has appropriated Cage’s musical notation and interpreted it in a highly personal way. The work is accompanied by a special film about Sarkis and the construction of ‘Ballads’ in the Submarine Wharf. Watch this film on the museum’s online video channel arttube.nl. Beware! The exhibition in the museum is no longer on display!

International


Sarkis’ work has been exhibited internationally since the early 1970s at the Venice Biennale, the Istanbul Biennial and the Documenta in Kassel. He had a solo exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2011. During the exhibition in the Submarine Wharf Sarkis was also participating in the Paris Triennale. His installation ‘La Frise des trésors de guerre’ (The Frieze of War Trophies) was on display at the Palais de Tokyo.

Live music and more

As part of the exhibition, each Sunday the 43-bell carillon will be played by Frank Steijns. On a few Sundays there will be a special programme in which other musicians will perform together on the carillon. The museum is also organising a jazz concert, a carillon and piano concert, and a carillon and organ concert.

There are free guided tours of the exhibition every Saturday, and monthly combined tours of the exhibition and the surrounding RDM Campus. Specially for children, the museum is organising a puppet show, a children’s workshop and much more.