Exhibition "Far away, so close. Artists, women artists and their travels"
Artistry and travel have been closely linked for centuries. The desire to transcend the boundaries of one's homeland has spawned enormous creativity. Before photography became widespread as a means of documentation, experiences and encounters on journeys were mainly recorded in prints and drawings, which still tell exciting stories of personal explorations and artistic ways of looking at things.From 8 July 2023, the Kupferstich-Kabinett der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), together with the Katrin Bellinger Collection from London, will be showing the international loan exhibition "Ferne, so nah. Artists, women artists and their travels". Spanning almost four centuries and featuring over 120 works by more than 80 artists, the presentation invites the public to embark on their own creative journey. The wide selection of drawings, prints, sketchbooks and albums from the Renaissance to the mid-19th century are juxtaposed with contemporary works, including works commissioned for this exhibition.
Why did artists travel? What did they take with them? With whom did they travel and with whom did they meet? How did they document their journeys? The exhibition explores these questions through a variety of exhibits. It accompanies famous and lesser-known artists* on their journeys far away and close to home; among them Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein the Younger, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Wenceslaus Hollar, Zacharias Wagner, Valentijn Klotz, Maria Sibylla Merian, Angelika Kauffmann, Franz Pforr, Augusta von Buttlar, Julie von Egloffstein, Ludwig Richter, Friedrich Preller the Elder and Raden Saleh.
The show comprises three chapters: UNTERWEGS traces the experiences of artists* and shows what they captured on the road. In addition to the natural environment, the drawings created on the road bear witness to encounters with places and people, their costumes and habits. DESTINATION ROM focuses on the artistic heritage and social networks of the eternal city that has attracted travellers for centuries. DRESDEN presents works from the extensive collections of the Electors of Saxony, tells of their fascination with the cultures of India, China, Brazil and Turkey, and introduces the rich court culture of Dresden.
Interventions by contemporary artists invite further reflection on the unifying but also divisive dimensions of travel.
A rich accompanying programme offers the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and each other. In addition to holiday activities and family afternoons, the themed tour "Women Artists on the Move" (02.8. and 20.9.2023) explores women artists, their lives and their journeys.
