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Ashmolean NOW: Bettina von Zwehl
New photographs by London-based artist Bettina von Zwehl (b.1971 in Munich). Accompanies the artist’s exhibition in Oxford at the Ashmolean Museum, 12 October 2024 to 11 May 2025. Part of the successful Ashmolean Now book series.
This well-designed publication features new photographs by London-based artist Bettina von Zwehl (b.1971 in Munich). Following her graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1999, von Zwehl has completed high-profile residencies and had solo exhibitions at museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Freud Museum, Holburne Museum, and the New York Historical Society Museum. During a residency in Oxford, von Zwehl researched the Ashmolean’s founding collections and the many narratives embedded within the historical objects. This served as inspiration for a unique Wunderkammer book and exhibition that seamlessly transition between still-life, portraiture, monumental and miniature elements, as well as non-art objects and specimens from natural history collections. The artist's aim is to rekindle wonder and curiosity as critical tools for exploring new ideas and unique practices, expanding the boundaries of the photographic medium.
This well-designed publication features new photographs by London-based artist Bettina von Zwehl (b.1971 in Munich). Following her graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1999, von Zwehl has completed high-profile residencies and had solo exhibitions at museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Freud Museum, Holburne Museum, and the New York Historical Society Museum. During a residency in Oxford, von Zwehl researched the Ashmolean’s founding collections and the many narratives embedded within the historical objects. This served as inspiration for a unique Wunderkammer book and exhibition that seamlessly transition between still-life, portraiture, monumental and miniature elements, as well as non-art objects and specimens from natural history collections. The artist's aim is to rekindle wonder and curiosity as critical tools for exploring new ideas and unique practices, expanding the boundaries of the photographic medium.
96 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2024
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October 17, 2024
I absolutely loved the previous Ashmolean Now exhibition (Pio Abad: To Those Sitting in Darkness), so I knew I would have some high standards for this next one- and it surpassed them all! genuinely never knew the circumstances of Hester Pookes’ death and the struggle for ownership of the Tradescant collection. I really loved the discussion of the complexities of a collector- part innocent curiosity and wonder about the world’s objects, but also part controlling, wanting to keep, to observe and organize in order to understand everything. I haven’t actually seen the exhibition yet (I’m hastily typing this out after I worked the gallery opening and read this catalogue in an hour), but I’m looking forward to seeing her work for myself soon :•)
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review