Stedelijk Museum - Rineke Dijkstra

James and I went on a big date this afternoon to the Stedelijk Museum here in Amsterdam. I visited the museum back in 2001 when it was housed in its original building in the Museumplein strip. As with everything else here in Amsterdam, the museum building is under renovation until 2007 and the regular collection is off display. However, they are presenting some fetching temporary exhibits in their temp space in the old Post office. The building is an ugly cement block government monstrosity flanked by two beautiful examples of architecture: Centraal Station and the NEMO Science Centre.

We went to see the exhibition of work by the Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra. It was incredible! My favourite portraits were the mothers and sons. Three pictures of women and their newborn babies were juxtaposed with three photos of young Portuguese bull fighters. The women in the series were photographed one hour, one day and one week after giving birth. The first woman had on that horrible mesh underwear with the enormous maxi pad that is standard issue at Toronto East General L&D ward. The picture above is one of the bull fighter shots and also graces the exhibition posters. I also enjoyed her video installation called "The Buzzclub/Mystery World". I was actually laughing out loud during it - and I can't remember the last time I did that at a museum!

I also got the chance to see a film by photographer, film and video artist Shirin Neshat. The installation Zarin is about an Iranian prostitute who believes that she is being punished by God for her sinful lifestyle.

A very impressive collection.