FROM 13 SEPT–14 DEC 2025 | A new exhibition by Afghan-born artist Narges Mohammadi is set to open this September at Brutus. Her installation explores memory, poverty and resilience through a deeply personal lens.

Narges Mohammadi returns to her roots in solo exhibition at Brutus

The Rotterdam art space Brutus will host a solo exhibition by artist Narges Mohammadi from 13 September to 14 December 2025. Titled Er kraait geen haan naar, the show features a site-specific installation exploring childhood memories, economic insecurity and the resilience of the human spirit.

Exploring the poetics of memory and poverty

Mohammadi, born in Kabul in 1993, revisits spaces from her early youth in a large-scale installation specially developed for Brutus' underground Barbarella space. The work incorporates sculptural elements crafted from sand and alabaster, alongside enlarged family photographs recreated in clay. These are set against the recurring sound of a ticking sewing machine—both ominous and comforting.

The exhibition considers the layered meaning of ‘home’—not as a fixed structure, but as something shaped by memory, presence and absence. By hollowing out alabaster from within until it becomes almost transparent, Mohammadi employs a sculptural technique that also functions as a metaphor: the way poverty can erode individuals quietly, from the inside out.

About the artist

Narges Mohammadi studied art history in Utrecht and visual arts at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. Her work has previously been recognised with awards such as the Volkskrant Visual Art Prize (2024) and the Stokroos Sculpture Prize (2022). In 2025, she also designed Rotterdam's monument against femicide, unveiled on International Women’s Day.

Brutus as a platform for artistic freedom

Brutus, located in a former port complex in Rotterdam-West, is known for offering artists room to experiment. With over 6,000 m² of raw industrial space, it supports a wide range of contemporary art forms. The venue continues to be a space where established and emerging artists can create without conventional constraints.

Location and directions

The exhibition Er kraait geen haan naar takes place at Brutus Space, Keileweg 10-B in Rotterdam. The area, part of the Keilekwartier in Rotterdam-West, is known for its creative and industrial character, housing studios, cultural events, and food spaces. The venue is easily accessible by bike, tram, or car.

HAPPENING 25–26 June | Wereldmuseum Rotterdam will host an international conference on 25 and 26 June exploring the decolonisation of art history through an Asian lens. The event brings together artists, researchers and curators to discuss how imperial legacies continue to shape knowledge, museums and representation.

_{Image: Morning Glory © Guggenheim Museum New York, by artist Sopheap Pich (speaker at the conference)}

Wereldmuseum Rotterdam to host global decolonial art conference

Wereldmuseum Rotterdam will serve as the venue for the upcoming international conference De-Imperialising Histories and Blazing Forms, taking place on 25 and 26 June 2025. The conference is organised in collaboration with the Research Center for Material Culture (RCMC) and Asia Forum, bringing together a diverse group of artists, curators and scholars.

The aim of the two-day event is to reflect critically on how art histories—particularly those rooted in Asia—can challenge and reshape dominant Western narratives. The conference builds upon a previous edition in 2024, which centred on Africa and its diasporas. This year, the focus turns to Asia and its role in the production of knowledge and museum practice.

Confirmed speakers include Cambodian sculptor Sopheap Pich—whose work has been exhibited at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Centre Pompidou—as well as UC Berkeley professor Winnie Wong, known for her research on authorship and the Chinese art market. Other participants include Ming Tiampo, Hammad Nasar, Yoshiko Shimada, Yuko Kikuchi, Eunsong Kim, and the artist collective Without Shape Without Form.

Exploring four themes across borders

The conference is structured around four key themes that examine the dynamics of global art discourse:

• Connectivity – addressing transnational networks, migration, and shared histories
• Making – focusing on material culture, craft, and artistic processes
• Value – exploring systems of validation, institutional authority, and alternative ways of knowing
• Spirituality – delving into ritual, meaning, and the immaterial dimensions of art

These topics will be explored through lectures, panel discussions, artist talks, and performances. The programme is designed to encourage both academic engagement and creative reflection.

Rethinking museum roles

According to Asia Forum members Annie Jael Kwan, Hammad Nasar, John Tain and Ming Tiampo, the conference challenges the traditional binaries of coloniser and colonised. Instead, it seeks to highlight the complex legacy of imperialism in Asia and how museums might respond to these histories.

They state: “This conference invites us to reconsider the histories, practices and objects of Asia, and to explore the alternatives they offer for everyone.”

Accessibility and audience

The conference is open to a broad audience, including academics, students, artists, museum professionals, and individuals with an interest in decolonial theory and artistic practice. Admission is free, but registration is required via the official website: www.materialculture.nl.

About the Research Center for Material Culture

The RCMC, part of Wereldmuseum, plays a central role in rethinking the purpose of museums in the 21st century. Positioned as a research platform, the centre brings together artists, academics, activists and curators to interrogate historical narratives and explore new ways of engaging with heritage and identity.

Its work is organised around fellowships, community initiatives, public programming and publications. These activities often address current issues that connect institutional collections with broader societal concerns.

RCMC members: Left to right: Hodan Warsame, Esmee Schoutens, Ilaria Obata, Wayne Modest, Carine Zaymaan, Olombi Bois. © James Gallagher.

Directions and location

How to get to Wereldmuseum Rotterdam

The conference will take place in the Balzaal (ballroom) of Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, located in the Scheepvaartkwartier neighbourhood. The area is accessible by public transport, including tram and metro, and is within walking distance of the Erasmus Bridge. The museum is situated near the river, surrounded by historic architecture, cafés and cultural institutions.

HAPPENING 11 July–24 August 2025 | The Brutus Space in Rotterdam will host the Wild Summer of Art exhibition, showcasing works from 50 local artists. The event will include a range of public programmes, screenings, and performances.

^{Photo credit: Laura Siliquini}

Wild Summer of Art returns to Brutus this July

The third edition of Wild Summer of Art will take place from 11 July to 24 August 2025 at Brutus in the M4H area of Rotterdam. This year's theme, Traces We Keep (Sporen die we bewaren), focuses on the physical and emotional remnants left behind by events, individuals and cultural shifts.

The large-scale exhibition will present work by fifty artists, including emerging talent, mid-career practitioners and established names from Rotterdam’s contemporary scene. Curators Yannik Güldner and Jeanette Bisschops have shaped the programme, which spans Brutus’s 6,000 m² space of raw, industrial halls and cavernous ruins.

The theme: Traces We Keep

The 2025 edition takes the building itself as a starting point. Brutus, with its visibly aged structures and ruinous features, plays a central role in communicating the exhibition's focus on memory and transformation. The title Traces We Keep refers to both physical remnants and emotional imprints, asking questions such as: What do we carry forward from the past? and What will we ourselves leave behind?

According to the curators, the space and artworks collectively form “a conversation between what was and what could have been.” The exhibition uses art to engage with memory as a creative force, evoking the words of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish: “Memory is the scar of history.”

Wild Summer of Art 2024. Photographer: Laura Siliquini

Curators

Yannik Güldner, born in Germany and now based in The Hague, works independently as a curator and artistic programmer. He is also currently involved with the artist-run platform iii (instrument inventors initiative), known for supporting interdisciplinary work across performance, sensory experience and technology.

Jeanette Bisschops splits her time between New York and Amsterdam. A curator and writer, she has previously worked at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the New Museum in New York. Currently affiliated with Performa, the biennial for visual art performance, she also runs Performance Talks, a forum for critical discourse in the field.

Artists selected by community scouts

The selection of artists for this edition was carried out with input from a group of local scouts active in various corners of the Rotterdam arts ecosystem. Names include Golnar Abbasi, Amber Bas, Maarten Bel, Reinier Landwehr, and Isabelle Sully, among others. The approach is intended to reflect diverse curatorial perspectives and strengthen connections across artistic communities.

Wild Summer of Art 2024. Photographer: Laura Siliquini

Performances and interventions

In addition to the exhibition, Wild Summer of Art will feature an ongoing programme of live performances, interventions and musical happenings. These will unfold across the site throughout the summer, contrasting with more static exhibition formats and keeping the experience in flux.

Brutus Takeover returns

Following last year's pilot, the Brutus Takeover initiative will return in 2025. Through an open call open until 18 May, seven selected artists will be given full access to the entrance hall of Brutus, known as Het Bureel, for a week each.

This rotating platform allows artists to experiment freely, whether through temporary installations, try-out performances, workshops or pop-up exhibitions. Visitors can expect something different each week throughout the summer.

Summer side programme

In parallel with the main exhibition, Brutus will offer a side programme featuring workshops, talks, food, music and more. These activities aim to create informal opportunities for engagement, reflection and community building within the arts.

About Brutus

Founded in 2008 by artist Joep van Lieshout, Brutus describes itself as an Artist Driven Playground rather than a traditional museum. Located in the west of Rotterdam, it offers large-scale spaces for experimentation in all disciplines, from sculpture to immersive installations.

Brutus comprises two foundations: Brutus Base, which handles projects related to Atelier Van Lieshout, and Brutus Space, which manages broader collaborations. In addition to exhibitions, the organisation runs a residency programme and the Brutus Prijs.

Practical information

The grand opening of Wild Summer of Art takes place on Friday 11 July 2025, from 20:00 to 01:00, in collaboration with Operator Radio. The exhibition runs until 24 August 2025 and is open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. Admission tickets can be reserved via brutus.stager.co.

All artworks shown are available for sale, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the artists.

Brutus. Photo credit: Tamara Cieremans

Directions to Brutus

Brutus is located at Keileweg 10 in the M4H port area in western Rotterdam. This industrial area is known for its creative and cultural spaces. Visitors can reach Brutus by public transport or car, with parking available nearby.

 

FROM 19 July – 9 November 2025 | A forgotten figure in Rotterdam’s artistic history will be spotlighted this summer. The Chabot Museum is preparing a solo exhibition honouring the work and legacy of sculptor Leendert Bolle.

Chabot Museum to exhibit forgotten sculptor Leendert Bolle

From 19 July to 9 November 2025, the Chabot Museum will present an exhibition dedicated to Rotterdam-born sculptor Leendert Bolle (1879–1942). Once regarded as an important figure in Dutch sculpture during the 1950s, Bolle’s experimental and modern approach to material and form has largely faded from public view. This upcoming exhibition seeks to reintroduce his body of work and its significance, particularly in the context of Rotterdam’s public art landscape.

Re-evaluating Bolle's artistic contributions

The exhibition will feature a range of Bolle’s works, including sculptures, sketches, plaster models, and medallions. Notably, it will explore his public contributions to the city of Rotterdam, such as the stylised animal figures atop columns at the original entrance to Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo), and the keystones for the bridge on Statensingel.

Curated with works on loan from institutions including Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museum Rotterdam, the Maritime Museum, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, and the Rotterdam City Archives, the exhibition offers a comprehensive view of Bolle’s artistic legacy.

A contemporary of Chabot

Art historian Ype Koopmans, former director of Museum MORE and a specialist in interwar Dutch art, has written a monograph to accompany the exhibition. Koopmans notes the innovative nature of Bolle’s methods and the influence of his friendship with Henk Chabot. Art critic Abraham Hammacher once described Bolle as an “exceptionally focused artist,” singling out his balustrade for the G.J. de Jongh monument in the garden of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen as a prime example of interwar sculpture.

Exhibition details

Leendert Bolle (1879–1942) – Beeldhouwer in Rotterdam
Dates: 19 July – 9 November 2025
Location: Chabot Museum, Museumpark, Rotterdam

A richly illustrated monograph by Koopmans, published by Stichting Clio Rotterdam, will be available during the exhibition.

Directions to Chabot Museum

The Chabot Museum is located in the Museumpark, near several major cultural institutions including the Kunsthal and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The area is well-connected by public transport, with tram and metro stations within walking distance. Drivers will find paid parking in the nearby Museumpark garage.