ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS.- Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem presents today Ophelia. Desire, Melancholy In the Death Wish, on view through May 10, 2009. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy ‘to be, or not to be...’ was directed to his tragic beloved Ophelia. Many writers, philosophers, cultural scholars and visual artists since that time have found inspiration in the mystery of Ophelia’s death. It is therefore an opportune moment for a cultural event which updates this idea of Ophelia as a romantic muse.

It was primarily the inspiration of guest curators Krien Clevis and Flos Wildschut to translate the universal themes represented by Ophelia into a modern, multicultural context. “Ophelia is a contemporary metaphor for the modern romantic who wrestles with conflicting feelings of reciprocal incomprehension, unrequited love, and desperate longing, and who seeks ultimate release in death. Not only does she represent the deeper layers of the feminine being, but also the indefinable desires of this side of life, to which nature ascribes symbolic meaning.” These feelings and experiences serve as the departure point for the events, and are elaborated on through a number of subthemes in various artistic disciplines. The exhibition features a broad range of Dutch and international artists who bring these themes into the contemporary era in an interesting way. Ophelia is transformed into a romantic muse for the present day. But there is more. During the exhibition, a conference will take place in which writers, (art) historians, littérateurs, and psychologists will present the significance of Ophelia from their individual perspectives. These perspectives will be compiled in a publication which will accompany the events. In addition, there will be a surprisingly diverse offer of films, dance and theater performances, debates, readings, workshops, and art provided by, amongst others CBKGelderland (Arnhem branch), Focus Filmtheater, Stichting Interart, ArtEZ high school for the arts, the Arnhem Adult Education Centre, the Arnhem Library, and, conditionally, Musis Sacrum / Schouwburg Arnhem and De Plaats music theatre Arnhem. In addition, there is an educational program for young people on Ophelia with cross-overs between the visual arts and music.

The exhibition “Ophelia -Desire, melancholy the death wish” is on view from 21 February through 10 May at the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem. Participating artists: Erzsébet Baerveldt, Wout Berger, Anouk De Clercq, Krien Clevis, Delphine Courtillot, Gregory Crewdson, Amie Dicke, Iris van Dongen, Desiree Dolron, Marlene Dumas, Guido Geelen, Marnix Goossens, Gerard Holthuis, Tom Hunter, Izima Kaoru, Juul Kraijer, Justine Kurland, Erik Odijk, L.A. Raeven, Pipilotti Rist, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Sissi, Elisabet Stienstra, Elly Strik, Anne Wenzel.