Mudam's 2024 Artistic Programme and Diving Headfirst into the Deep Deep Down Exhibition

It was an extraordinary experience to be among the pioneering individuals in Luxembourg’s art and culture scene to catch a glimpse of their forthcoming offerings. We are sincerely appreciative of this opportunity and would like to express our gratitude to Julie, Inès, Vere, and Bettina.

The occasion predominantly focused on the exhibitions, recent acquisitions made by the Mudam, and collaborative works with other European artistic organisations. Each particular exhibition, section, and collaborative effort was introduced by its respective curator, providing us with a brief glimpse into the creative minds and approaches behind each one.

The press event

The revolutionary artistic programme for 2024 is realised by the Mudam director Bettina Steinbrugge. The programme aligns with the museum's philosophy of understanding the developments of the technological world. The Mudam will be hosting several exhibitions, beginning with a group exhibition called A Model in early December, interrogating the role of museums in the 21st century.

There will also be a second exhibition, Radical Software: Women's Art and Computing 1966–1991, which will survey the first three decades of digital art from a feminist viewpoint. There will also be two large, monographic exhibitions, one dedicated to the prolific German artist Cosima von Bonin and the other to Alexander Xanti Schawinsy. The Mudam also acquired works from Lawrence Abu Hamdan and from Sin Wai Kin, the most recent winner of the 2023 Baloise Art Prize. In addition, there will be two collaborations, one with Andrea Mancini and Every Island and the other with Lemi Ponifasio.

View of the exhibition Deep Deep Down 30.06.2023 — 18.02.2024, Mudam Luxembourg / © Studio Rémi Villaggi | Mudam Luxembourg

As to our thoughts on the event, Sof found it to be delightfully inspiring. The programme itself was thought-provoking, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional and modern technical art. One particular exhibition that caught Sof's attention was Alien Internet (2003), giving the impression of a mind-bending entity. The exhibition centred around Radical Software: Women's Art and Computing 1966–1991 also intrigued Sof, as it brought a unique feminist perspective to an otherwise male-saturated market. Furthermore, the inclusion of the prestigious Baloise Art Prize, with its incorporation of drag culture and the queer movement, made the programme especially inclusive.

Meanwhile, it was exhilarating for me to attend the press event, and the programme for 2024 only added to that feeling. As Sof observed, the future programme creates a compelling bridge between showcasing art from a feminist viewpoint and allowing art to be viewed through that lens from a broader perspective. It is an exciting programme that takes audacious risks, and I look forward to seeing the positive result.

The Deep Deep Down exhibition

The Deep Deep Down Exhibition, located on level -1, was curated by international artists Shirana Shabhazi and Tirdad Zolghadr. While attempting to maximise the space of the lower ground floor, the exhibit consists of artwork that has been stored at the Mudam and is seldom shown to the public.

The Mudam has a large collection due to its multiple collaborations with a variety of curators. Thus, as part of the inevitable course of constant collaborations, a strong supply of work has naturally developed, and the Mudam has taken to using this opportunity to maximise its backlog. The collection is dedicated to showcasing them; it is not a critique of work but to help us understand the individual pieces intellectually and physically, and to move this showcase of works from the private into the public sphere.

View of the exhibition Deep Deep Down 30.06.2023 — 18.02.2024, Mudam Luxembourg / © Studio Rémi Villaggi | Mudam Luxembourg

As a reviewer, I feel the curators were mostly able to make the best of the given space by understanding its limits and observing a certain discipline. The guidelines presented here are not an extensive list but are based on a general observation: clear documentation needs to be provided for the work to be displayed. Artworks are clearly placed in order of size, and many items are exhibited within crates, serving both a functional and aesthetic function. I will now address and analyse several pieces of artwork from the exhibition. This was a difficult choice, considering the large number of artists, but I have narrowed it down to focus on three artists' works: Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly, and Ernesto Ballesteros.

Acquired by the Mudam in 1996, Cindy Sherman's Untitled #120 (1983) is a C-print photograph that portrays a woman in relaxed attire, seated nonchalantly, and sporting a detached facial expression. Known for her captivating pieces, Sherman explores the concepts of self-presentation and the distinction between the public and private self. Unlike her usual artistic style, this particular print deviates from her typical colour palette, featuring a hint of yellowish-beige hues. The choice of these colours evokes a strong association with suburban America. I believe Sherman is assuming the persona of a disinterested housewife, while the colour scheme reinforces the mundane nature of her character's existence.

Cy Twombly's Natural History Part II, Some Trees of Italy (Laurus Nobilis) 1975–1976, donated to the Mudam in 2000, is inspired by nature, creating a lyrical relationship between humans, art, and nature. Additionally, it explores the connection between art and a potential natural deity, leading to a conversation between myth and reality.

Lastly, Ernesto Ballesteros' ‘207 km of Lines Applied to a Landscape’ (2012), acquired by Mudam in 2012, is a similar work to Richard's Long Exploration of Space in that it examines landscapes through physicality alone. In addition to providing richness, the colours encourage us to reexamine our viewpoint on materialism. Yet, they are also so beautiful that we must wonder about our humanity.

View of the exhibition Deep Deep Down 30.06.2023 — 18.02.2024, Mudam Luxembourg / © Studio Rémi Villaggi | Mudam Luxembourg

I have only one minor constructive criticism of the exhibition: the pieces do feel a little squished. As a viewer, I understand their perspective due to the natural size of the location; nonetheless, they have overall maximised their space to the fullest extent possible. I found the exhibition to be very thought-provoking because it contained work from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, and I am grateful to see lesser-known pieces. I hope that the Mudam will continue in this direction.

*The Deep Deep Down exhibition is on show from the 30th June 2023 until the 18th February 2024 at the Mudam Luxembourg — Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean at 3, Park Dräi Eechelen, L-1499 Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

 Roux Magazine

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