Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rijksmuseum Explores Ovid's Metamorphoses: Ancient Myths, Modern Views
Rijksmuseum Explores Ovid's Metamorphoses: Ancient Myths, Modern Views
5 Feb
Summary
- Exhibition features ancient myths and modern interpretations.
- Art spans from masters like Bernini to contemporary artists.
- Themes explore transformation, passion, fear, and the human condition.
An exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam delves into the ancient Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses, bringing together classical and contemporary art. The show features works by masters such as Bernini, Rodin, and Brâncuși, alongside modern artists like Louise Bourgeois and Ana Mendieta. These artworks reinterpret myths where gods pursue mortals, and transformations abound.
The exhibition highlights themes of change, passion, and the human condition, asserting their relevance to contemporary society. General director Taco Dibbits notes the 2,000-year-old epic poem's resonance in uncertain times, as forms and identities shift. Artworks explore stories of gods transforming to impregnate women, and of mythological figures like Arachne becoming a spider.
Senior curator Frits Scholten addresses the modern discomfort with sexual themes in Ovid's tales, emphasizing the need for nuanced views. He notes that while some stories are not "friendly to women," they represent ancient fantasy and symbolism. The exhibition ultimately aims to offer hope, showing how despite change and violence, the human soul endures.
