TRANSMUTATION is the first comprehensive solo exhibition of the Korean-Dutch artist Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) (1977). The exhibition presents a selection of works from the past fifteen years and demonstrates the diversity of her artistic practice.
The central theme is the questioning of the colonial and Eurocentric ‘blueprint’ that still has a lasting impact both here in Europe and internationally. For example, in the emergence of a large-scale, transracial adoption industry influenced by colonial power relations. She attempts to undo this way of thinking through her poetic and enchanting installations. Her films and installations stem from years of research, in which historical events and Korean shamanism come together.
Some works– such as Dutch Cabinet, The Garden and Art History – have unfolded over longer periods of time, constituting a critique of Western linear thinking and the concept of progress. They are also ‘meditations’ on the normalisation of the far right, nationalism and the Western dominance of (art) history.
The works hold up a mirror but also invite collective healing. Central to this exhibition is the idea of ‘transmutation’: a spiritual concept in which the historical, political blueprint transforms into ‘Light’. In this way, Chang uses spirituality for the collective, thereby transcending the personal.
Over Sara Seijn Chang
Korean-Dutchartist Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) (1977) lives and works in Berlin. She creates films, large-scale immersive (film) installations and uses avariety of media, including textiles, painting, and writing. Her work is shown in international biennials and museums, and her practice is situated within decolonial, diasporic, queer, and feminist thought and practice. The Centraal Museum Utrecht has been following her international career for some time and nominated her in 2023 for the Theodora Niemeijer Prize, an important award for woman artists, which she was awarded for her mid-career oeuvre.
On display in Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd
From 2022 to 2026, the Centraal Museum hosts a solo exhibition by a renowned contemporary Dutch artist. The program is a partner project of the Hartwig Art Foundation.
Practical information
It's not necessary to reserve tickets. The ticket office is located at the entrancehall of the estate.
For more information you can visit the Landhuis Oud Ameliseerd website.
Credits:
Image: Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide), Dismemberment, film installation,45’, 2024