The Continental Shift Exhibition
David Galloway
Tavoos Art Quarterly. No 7 . Spring 2001
“Art is a guide to prolific exchanges between global cultures.” This was the slogan and mission of the “Continental Shift” exhibition; one of the largest exhibitions of the new millennium. A collaborative effort by the Ludwig Forum in Aachen (Germany), the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht (Holland), the Stadsgalerij in Heerlen (Holland) and the Museum of Modern Art in Liège (Belgium), the exhibition was held from May 21 to September 10 in the border regions of these three countries, a reflection of the cultural, historical and social exchanges and differences of border areas. It was a successful and unique experiment aiming to disseminate cultural similarities, support border cultures and overcome national cultural customs.
Over one hundred young artists from Korea, Japan, China and South America who are now residing in Europe contributed over 300 works of painting, sculpture, multi-media, installation, video and music to this exhibition. These pieces were not limited to specific cultural-geographic categories, but reflected art and culture in a variety of continents.
“Continental Shift” clearly addressed issues of contemporary debates: population migration, multi-cultural phenomena and globalization. Migrant artists, whose work focused on regional and indigenous issues, were a prominent presence in the exhibition, thus spectators were exposed to completely original manifestations of new domains and the realms of fantasy. The contact and connection of various cultures was put on display. Carrying a rich store of culture and tradition, Asian artists had created works of great authenticity. Geographic boundaries were blurred, the past history and culture of people o display , and spectator was transported to the past , immersed
In the present and offered a glimpse of the future .While the narrative subjects may have been of our forefathers , the narrative style was contemporary.
The Ludwig Forum, Aachen:Art of South America , Japan and Korea
Europe and Latin America have a long-standing history of cultural exchange. This exhibition featured the work of Lygia Clark and Wilfredo Lam, displaying the similarities between European Surrealist and Structuralist styles and the elements of Afro-Cuban art.