Rewinding Internationalism

The exhibition Rewinding Internationalism explores developments, ideas and stories from the 1990s and how they resonate in the world today. The end of the Cold War, the AIDS pandemic and increasing globalisation brought about dramatic changes, also in the art world. What became of the questions and experiences of those days? 

Collaborative research exhibition

Rewinding International features visual and audio material from the past and present, archive materials and recently created work. The curators, collectives and artists who have curated the exhibition invite you to ‘rewind’ to moments from the 1990s and reflect on them from the perspective of today. Five new artworks have been created for the exhibition including works by Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska, Didem Pekün and susan pui san lok / lok pui san. Rewinding Internationalism is partly the result of a collaboration within the L’Internationale museum confederation, of which the Van Abbemuseum is a member.

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Unique exhibition design

The distinct design of the exhibition emphasises the fact that history is not linear. Instead of walking through a continuous story, visitors are occasionally made to turn around and go back to where they started. In the process, they encounter a unique story and atmosphere in every room, sometimes bright and hopeful, sometimes dark and ominous.

Take a virtual tour

Use the map top right for quick navigation.

Publication

The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication with contributions by Nick Aikens, Sara Buraya Boned, Pablo Martinez, Bojana Piškur and Grace Samboh as well as images from the exhibition.

Part of a series

Rewinding Internationalism ties into a series of cutting-edge research exhibitions at the Van Abbemuseum, including Yael Davids: A Daily Practice (2020), The 1980s. The start of the now? (2016), Confessions of the Imperfect (2014-15) and Museum of Arte Útil (2013-14).

Featuring works from

Christine Baeumler, Act Up Barcelona, Belkis Ayón Manso, Nadiah Bamadhaj, Cecilia Barriga, Miguel Benlloch, CADA, Tony Cokes, Betsy Damon, Eugenio Dittborn, Les Diables Bleus, Diamela Eltit, Gorgona Group, Beth Grossman, Dai Guangyu, Félix Guattari, Lubaina Himid en Magda Stawarska, Julije Knifer, Ivan Kožarić, Li Jixiang, Chengying Liu, susan pui san lok / lok pui san, Miguel D. Norambuena, Miguel Parra Urrutia, Olu Oguibe, Didem Pekün, Pejvak, Wang Peng, Nelly Richard, Christian Rodriguez / CEPSS, Sandra Rylvin Rinaudo, Lotty Rosenfeld, Allan Sekula, Semsar Siahaan, Lamnu Suri, Norbert van Onna, Yin Xiuzhen, Zeng Xun.

Research projects

AIDS Anarchive developed with Equipo re (Aimar Arriola, Nancy Garin and Linda Valdés), Revista de Crítica Cultural, The Three Ecologies and Internationalist Feminisms developed with Paulina E. Varas; Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu and Lhasa, China, 1995-1996) developed with Sebastian Cichocki; Contemporary Art of the Non-Aligned Countries. Unity in Diversity in International Art (Jakarta, 1995), developed with Bojana Piškur, Grace Samboh and Rachel Surijata; ADN (Association pour la Démocratie à Nice), with Carnivals Independents and Les Diables Bleus (1991-2004).