Copilot said: Photo of a country road at dusk. A solitary tree stands beside a bend in the road, illuminated in shades of pink, purple and blue. In the foreground are grasses and low shrubs, while rolling hills and a dark blue evening sky can be seen in the background.

Exhibition

Birds of a Feather

23 January 2027 - 5 September 2027

Birds of a Feather showcases a diverse selection of post-war artworks from our collection. Ellsworth Kelly’s (1923-2015) Series of Five Paintings forms the backbone of the exhibition. The five parts of this artwork are displayed in different rooms, alongside works by artists including Agnes Martin, Jo Baer and Robert Smithson.

Photo of an abstract painting that is almost entirely divided into two large, seemingly equal colour fields. The left side is bright red and the right side bright blue. The two colours are separated by a sharp vertical line running down the centre of the canvas.

Ellsworth Kelly, Series of Five Paintings, 1966 (one of five parts)

Series of Five Paintings

Kelly’s Series of Five Paintings (1966) consists of five works, each comprising two monochrome, contrasting areas of colour. Throughout his life, Kelly explored the relationship between form, colour, line and space. This series of large paintings also revolves around the sequencing and combination of colours. There is no prescribed order within the series. Together they form a common thread, but each painting is also a self-contained work. The artist prefers the canvases not to be displayed side by side, but rather scattered throughout the museum, intermingling with the collection.

Observing the World

Kelly developed his eye for colour and form at a young age while birdwatching. His observation continued to guide his artistic practice. His eye ‘captures’ fragments, which he then presents: a window frame, the shadow on a staircase, the reflection of light on water, the silhouettes of trees. Although abstract, his work is therefore derived from what he sees in the real world – the nature and architecture around him.

Photograph of a work of art in an empty room with a row of small windows at the top. The work of art consists of horizontally arranged, illuminated tubes arranged in a staircase formation

Dan Flavin, “monument” for V. Tatlin, 1968 - 2014

Photo of a wall-sized art installation consisting of dozens of small framed works arranged in a regular grid. The frames contain dried plants, leaves, branches, seeds, grasses, and other natural materials.

Herman de vries, eschenauer journal, January-December 2002