BEYOND THE FRAME, STEDELIJK’S NEWEST EXHIBITION CIRCULATE
words by AÏCHA PILMEYER
In a world where countless images flash before our eyes hundreds of times a day and constantly evolving techniques reshape how images are created, one can wonder how our relationship to images has changed. We capture memories with a quick click on our phones; these images often get lost in endless camera rolls. With almost everyone now a photographer, the role of photography has shifted, but its deeper meaning remains undeniable. Once simply a way to document moments, photography has now grown into a central part of our visual culture.
KWABENA SEKYI APPIAH-NTI (1994)
Garçon et Cheval, Golden Boy, 2024
jacquard woven rug made in TextielLab, Tilburg
The Stedelijk Museum was one of the first institutions in Europe to begin collecting photography in the 1950s, recognizing its potential to reflect and challenge contemporary issues. As Stedelijk’s photography collection grew, the ways images circulate and are understood also shifted. The rapid growth of photography techniques has forever changed the art world, and Stedelijk perfectly understands that this transformation is far from over.
Circulate is a testament to the ever-changing framework of photography—how images move through our world and shape our connections to them. As part of Stedelijk's biennial large-scale exhibitions, Circulate highlights the museum’s new direction in photography, focusing on works that explore the intersection of visual arts and photography. Each of the 21 featured artists shares a common quality: the courage to think beyond the frame.
GILLEAM TRAPENBERG (1991)
Tropicana – from Studio Assemblage, 2024
metal, paper, stamps, polaroid photograph, vinyl stickers, neodymium magnets
Photography has a unique ability to carry deep meaning, allowing makers to express and challenge contemporary issues while sparking conversations between viewers. This exhibition makes you think about your relationship to images and reconsider how you look at them. The techniques used to present the imagery add layers that draw you in, letting you truly experience each piece.
Take the work of Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-nti, for example. By printing photographs on crumbling stones and pairing them with other materials, he creates a dialogue between the hard stones and soft woven rugs reflecting the interconnected lives of young Black men worldwide. Or the colorful layers in Gilleam Trapenberg’s work, where his research processes became the final art piece. Or the dreamy works of Kevin Osepa that will transport you; he infuses his practice with an autobiographical touch, seamlessly blending photography, film, and sculpture.
KEVIN OSEPA (1994)
Kenta Iombrishi, 2024
photography series
For me, this exhibition celebrates how photography will always carry layers of wonder and nostalgia, bringing understanding and connection as it documents and challenges us to see through someone else’s eyes.
The exhibition is curated by Mirelva Berghout (independent curator) and Vincent van Velsen (curator of contemporary art and photography, Stedelijk Museum). And will run until the 23rd of March 2025. Find your tickets here.
Circulate features the work of 21 artists: Aimée Zito Lema / Ana María Gómez López / Anika Schwarzlose in collaboration with Elena Khurtova and Brian D. McKenna / Bruno Zhu / Gilleam Trapenberg / Hira Nabi / Ima-Abasi Okon / Jaya Pelupessy / Katarina Jazbec / Katja Mater / Katja Novitskova / Kévin Bray / Kevin Osepa / Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-nti / Mandy Franca / Neo Matloga / Paoletta Holst / Robert Glas / Semâ Bekirović / Sharelly Emanuelson / Vytautas Kumža