I Wish This Was A Song
I Wish This Was A Song runs parallel to the exhibition ‘Sing!’ at the Luther Museum Amsterdam. Eleven contemporary artworks are installed in the museum’s period rooms, temporarily integrated into the historical collection as if past and present unfold simultaneously and chronological time ceases to exist.
Why 'I Wish This Was A Song?'
Songs and singing, like visual art, are deeply embedded in culture. They play a vital role in shaping identity and social relations. Music and lyrics can be poetry, love letters, declarations, or manifestos. They foster solidarity, tell stories, evoke nostalgia, unlock emotions, or spark controversy.
Exhibiting something as intangible and ephemeral as a song may seem paradoxical. Despite recording technology, songs remain elusive in time and space. Yet the artists in this exhibition engage with their qualities and meanings as part of their expressive strategies. I Wish This Was A Song explores diverse ways of translating song into visual art, presenting a spectrum of approaches—from purely auditory experiments to fully visual interpretations, and everything in between.
Which artists will be featured during 'I Wish This Was A Song'?
Bani Abidi, Tim Ayres, Pavel Büchler, Laurent Fiévet, Becket MWN, Tris Vonna-Michell, Natalia Papaeva, Susan Phillipsz, Anri Sala
The exhibition is also open during Amsterdam Art Week (21-25 May) and the Open Garden Days (13-15 June).
Luthermuseum Amsterdam
27.03.2025—15.06.2025
Guided Tour: 7 June, 15:00-16:30
Curators: Chris Bestebreurtje and Petra Kuipers (Tlön Projects)
In collaboration with: Steven van Teeseling (Luther Museum Amsterdam)
