Beyond Surrealism

Beyond Surrealism combines contemporary artists and surrealist masterpieces from the collection of Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in a single, spectacular exhibition. Prepare to be surprised by encounters between modern works and timeless classics by Magritte and Dalì. This visually stunning exhibition implores you to see the world around us differently.

Surrealism comes to life

As the only museum in the Netherlands with a world-class Surrealist collection, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen offers the perfect setting for these dreamworlds. Six leading international artists: Kerstin Brätsch (1979), Monster Chetwynd (1973), Laure Prouvost (1978), Tai Shani (1976), Emma Talbot (1969), and Raphaela Vogel (1988) demonstrate that Surrealism is still very much alive after more than 100 years. Several of them even created new works specifically for this exhibition, drawing inspiration from Surrealist icons such as René Magritte, Salvador Dalì, Leonora Carrington, Unica Zürn, and Joan Miró.

Step inside...

Choose your own path through the exhibition, let your imagination run wild and expect the unexpected. From talking plants and giant fish to towering floor collages and performances by Monster Chetwynd. Tai Shani transports you to a world full of hallucinations featuring a floating ghost, glistening bronze coins and a story about mold on bread. 

In the exhibition

This visually striking exhibition encourages critical reflection on social issues and invites visitors to look at the world around them from a different perspective. Beyond Surrealism surprises visitors by showcasing museum masterpieces alongside contemporary art and stimulates thinking beyond conventional frameworks. 

Saskia van Kampen-Prein, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, explains the concept: 

“In the uncertain and volatile times we live in, the imaginative power of surrealism and the desire for alternative realities continue to inspire many contemporary artists, even those who do not identify as surrealists. These six artists use imagination to address pressing contemporary themes and social issues such as gender, identity, feminism, and climate change, offering new perspectives in a complex world dominated by news of natural disasters, war, and inequality.” 

About Surrealism

More than a hundred years ago, in 1924, the first surrealist manifesto was published. Since then, countless artists from around the world have been inspired by surrealist thinking, developing similar ideas, poems, and artworks. Surrealism is not a strictly defined art-historical movement, but rather a mindset or way of life.