The Museum Quarter

It was because a friend gave us a theater coupon. When you want to use the coupons you have to go and collect the tickets at the theater, some days after you have ordered them.

There we went to Rotterdam. The weather was bad, so a good day to see an exhibition of works of Edvard Munch in the Kunsthal.

Rotterdam as I see it, is always “under construction”. In the Second World War Rotterdam was bombed. After the war rebuilding went on for many years. And now they are renovating the Central Station in a big way. One day I have to make a separate blog about the architecture of Rotterdam.

Coming out of the station there were many puddles to cross. The big highway in front of the station was effectively blocked. No waiting for traffic lights. Only the trams and bicycles. We got our tickets and walked on in the rain. 

Passing the “Boijmans van Beuningen” museum we thought we were stuck. Building going on ahead. Rounding some gates there was a little hidden “path”. A big sign told us go there to the “Kunsthal”. Skipping over puddles, wading through mud, we arrived wet and cold at the museum.

I am sorry but Munch doesn’t appeal to me. I was more entertained by the exhibition of international realism on the upper floor “Feest der herkenning”

Paintings that look so much like pictures, but had this eerie kind of lighting. Huge detailed landscapes and city scenes. Beautiful portraits like this sitting family (“Flagrant”) by Eugene Buland. Very weird when you see the super realistic sculptures of Duane Hanson and John de Andrea. Some years ago in Museum “Arken” (Copenhagen – Denmark) there was a big exhibition of works of Duane Hanson. I remember a sleeping baby in a buggy. We had to look very close to see if it wasn’t a real sleeping baby.

All this realism makes you wonder about what you “really” see.  

Very realistic was the dried out little plant on the plinth of the room. We noticed because there was a spotlight on it. It made me think of my Christmas piece that I just threw into the garbage bin that morning. What a waste.

Going back to the station through the persistent rain. We discovered some fantastic graffiti works in the real world. 

And what about this exiting red zebra…..