The Anatomy Lesson Revisited

Almost 400 years after the creation of Rembrandt van Rijn’s early masterpiece, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632), an extremely diverse and carefully selected group of international artists has been brought together for the realization of an exhibition project in which Rembrandt’s painting acts as the catalyst for a process of reflective making to revive, interrogate and evolve it into expressions of contemporary art, reflecting their individual and creative values, from a 21st century point of view. The conceptual force and power of the whole, to be shown in these spaces, by means of the diversity as generated by the selection of artists, will together form a matrix of interlocking visual conversations. The works reflect the breadth of media recognizable in contemporary art, equally divided between two- and three-dimensional interpretations.

The Anatomy Lesson Revisited is an exhibition and educational project based on a synchronized individual reflection by an international group of artists. It has been developed by the Dutch artists Ron Weijers, Larisa Sjoerds and Frans de Winter in collaboration with the UK based curator Colin Rhodes and tactical advisor Marieta Reijerkerk.

Researching the anatomy of the human body has always triggered fascination and inspiration for artists. The Anatomy Lesson Revisited embodies the potential to showcase a unique conceptual exhibition on that particular concept. Seventeen 21st-century artistic interpretations inspired by Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, especially created for this exhibition, will be on shown.

The artistic and conceptual relation between the human body and mind and the medical, magic world of anatomical dissection are ingredients that fueled the inspiration of the participating artists during the creation of the artworks that will be included in The Anatomy Lesson Revisited. A carefully selected and highly diverse international group of artists includes: Bea Last (UK), Hans Rikken (NL), Johanna Schweizer (NL), Karin Arink (NL), Harry Schumacher (NL), Gilles Olry (F), Hans van der Ham (NL), Efrat Zehavi (IL/NL), David Jenowe (USA), Frank Vanhooren (B), Geert Mul (NL), Frans De Winter (NL), Larisa Sjoerds (NL), Rik van Iersel (NL), Steve Moseley (USA), Ron Weijers (NL) and Macha Mélanie & Compagnie Puls'Art (F).

The France-based choreographer Macha Mélanie and her dance group Compagnie Puls'Art developed a unique performance based on Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson, to be performed and documented during the opening of the exhibition. The performance investigating the fragile balance between the artworks, the artists, and visitors.