Inspiration - Iconic Works

18.6. – 20.9. 2020
ATENEUM Finnish National Gallery, Finland

ARTISTS’ TAKES RANGE FROM REVERING OLD MASTERS TO QUESTIONING THE ART HISTORY OF THE WHITE MAN

The history of Western art includes a great number of works that have become famous throughout the world. The subjects of many of these works involve classical mythology, biblical stories, or notable people and events. This exhibition is a contemporary take on iconic works and stories from art history. Famous paintings and sculptures have served as inspiration for contemporary artists whose viewpoints range from veneration of old masters to critical contemplation of power structures.

“Throughout history, art and artists have been valued as major contributors to society. The story of art assumed a new urgency, for example, during the Renaissance, when individual artists were put on a pedestal. Furthermore, the national art museums built in the mid-19th century, including the Ateneum, established canons and based their activities on presenting prominent artists who are part of these canons. Art is not disconnected from its history, and therefore, it is important to highlight how art classics are manifested in the work of today’s artists”, says Marja Sakari, the director of the Ateneum Art Museum, who acted as one of the curators of the exhibition.

The artists featured in the exhibition include

Marina Abramović, Georg Baselitz, Paul Benney, Pato Bosich, Glenn Brown, Rob & Nick Carter, Mat Collishaw, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Freddy Fabris, Nancy Fouts, Susanne Gottberg, Stephane Graff, Henry Hudson, Tom Hunter, Mark Karasick, Rachel Kneebone, Ola Kolehmainen, Jeff Koons, Joseph Kosuth, Wolfe von Lenkiewicz, Heikki Marila, Hynek Martinec, Sara Masüger, Alexander Mihaylovich, Jarmo Mäkilä, Cristiano Pintaldi, Marc Quinn, Recycle Group, Aurora Reinhard, Jenny Saville, Meekyoung Shin, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Kiki Smith, Gavin Turk, Koen Vanmechelen, Nicola Verlato and Hugo Wilson

This exhibition was originally on show at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm in spring 2020, and its main curators are Susanna Pettersson and James Putnam. At the Ateneum Art Museum, the exhibition is curated by the museum director, Marja Sakari, and the chief curator, Sointu Fritze.