Jennifer Tee: The Soul in Limbo

The Cobra Museum of Modern Art presents The Soul in Limbo, a solo exhibition by Jennifer Tee (b. 1973, the Netherlands) in the framework of the 6th edition of the Cobra Art Prize. The Municipality of Amstelveen and the Cobra Museum of Modern Art initiated this biannual prize, consisting of 10,000 EUR, a publication, and an exhibition, to generate attention to the spirit of the international Cobra group (1948–51) in relation to the contemporary. Core values such as experimental, engaged and interdisciplinary are key criteria for its jury.

The work of Jennifer Tee includes sculpture, installation, performance and choreography. The works all clearly express a dialogue between material experimentation and philosophical contemplation. Through a web of references to Western culture, art history, and Eastern philosophy, Tee investigates the mutability and complexity of constantly overlapping cultures and identities. Tee’s exploration of the spiritual dimensions within her subjects of reference results in works that hover between their concrete form and their loaded potential as carriers of an anticipated action, ritual and animation. In line with this, the intricate and almost impossible ceramics, hand-knitted crystalline Floorpieces, balancing sculptures and other works are usually installed in constellations and activated by performances.

The Soul in Limbo comprizes a variety of works set within an exhibition architecture developed by Tee. The exhibition highlights various thematic aspects of her work over the past decade including the most recent developments. The exhibition’s title derives from André Breton’s novel Nadja (1928) and refers to a recurrent subject in Tee’s works: the state of being in-between, on the border between the here and the possible.

During the exhibition, several performances will take place. Performance dates in 2016: January 17, January 24, January 31, February 7, and February 14.

In addition, Kunstverein Amsterdam, in collaboration with the artist and the Cobra Museum, presents Jennifer Tee meets Cobra, November 27, 2015–January 2, 2016, including a special book launch on Sunday, November 29 at 12pm.

Roma Publications, in association with the Cobra Museum of Modern Art, have published The Soul in Limbo (eds. Jennifer Tee and Hilde de Bruijn, design: Richard Niessen, essays: Zoë Gray, Maxine Kopsa and Monika Szewczyk), the most comprehensive monograph to date on the work of the artist. With support from Mondriaan Fund, AFK, Tijlfonds/Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds and Galerie Fons Welters, and a special thanks to Zwaan Printmedia.

​Curator: Hilde de Bruijn.
Jury Cobra Art Prize 2015: Saskia van Kampen-Prein, Roos Gortzak, Domeniek Ruyters, Katja Weitering.
Board: Marieke Sanders-ten Holte, Mels Crouwel, Eelco Dijk, Els Ottenhof.

For more information, contact Eric Wie: T +31(0)20 5475052 / T +31(0)6 51967233 / e.wie [​at​] cobra-museum.nl