In the presence of the artist Ahmet Öğüt you can be the first to enjoy this unique exhibition.

Forward! will be Ahmet Öğüt’s most ambitious solo presentation to date, bringing many large-scale installations and newly conceived artworks together. These projects will occupy the ten galleries of the museum’s old building but will expand beyond its walls in captivating ways.

Öğüt’s art can be found anywhere: on the street, on stage, in lecture halls, in the museum or through films, with one form often leading and morphing into another; a fire truck becomes a centre for issuing copies of banned books, a workers’ co-operative building finds itself hovering on a helium balloon. Öğüt transforms different histories or common narratives with a lightness of touch utilizing pathos, comedy and satire. He invites us to look at the world afresh, moving between countries, disciplines and ideas.

The world premier of Öğüt’s new work Reverb will be performed live at the Muziekgebouw for the occasion of the opening. This new work has also been conceived as a musical accompaniment to the exhibition itself in the form of a multi channel soundtrack.

16.00 Word of welcome by Charles Esche, director Van Abbemuseum
16.15 Opening speech by Nick Aikens and Annie Fletcher, curators Forward!
16.30 Word of welcome by the artist Ahmet Öğüt
17.30 Buffet dinner and drinks, Karel1 Museumcafé
19.30 Live Performance of Reverb by Ahmet Öğüt in collaboration with the band Fino Blendax, Muziekgebouw, Eindhoven