In his work, the Rotterdam artist Nazif Lopulissa (1991) – winner of the Henri Winkelman Award 2018 – explores the language of forms of objects, places and situations from his daily life. In Kunsthal Light #18 he presents a series of works in which he explores and transforms elements of the playground. Playgrounds is a personal journey in search of an important phenomenon from his childhood: the playground.

For Lopulissa the playground is a place of contradictions in which form, appearance, function and use seem to contradict one another all the time. By painting the brightly coloured, hard material of the playground items on classic cotton, Lopulissa takes away their materiality and emphasises form and colour. Lopulissa takes details from the playground and converts them into unrecognisable abstract patterns. He zooms in on fences, grids, bars and rubber tiles, painting them over on another in abstract compositions. 

Nazif Lopulissa installs 'Playground' in HAL 6, the window of the Kunsthal. Photo Marco De Swarts

Nazif Lopulissa

After graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam in 2017, Lopulissa set out to prove his worth as an artist. He set his sights high and tried to see his freedom to choose from many options not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to focus on new work. The presentation in Kunsthal Light marks the start of a new phase, the beginning of an exploration of painting that can result in interactive sculptures.

Kunsthal Light

Kunsthal Light creates opportunities for talented artists,  putting the spotlight on modern muralists, urban and comic artists, conceptual art and installations. The artists are given the freedom to create a site-specific work in the display window along the building’s front slope.

Construction of 'Playgrounds' Kunsthal Light # 18. Photo Marco De Swart.
Preliminary investigation Nazif Lopulissa
Nazif Lopulissa's research on the playground

Partners

About your visit

Booking an online ticket in advance is mandatory for everyone, including visitors with a Museumkaart, Rotterdampas, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip list
  • The Kunsthal is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. The Kunsthal Café opens half an hour earlier, so you can visit from 9:30 hrs until half an hour after closing time. Check the current opening hours.

  • Yes, you need to book a ticket with a start time in advance. This also applies if you have a Museum card, Rotterdam pass, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible. Book your start time.

  • Yes, with an online ticket, you can visit all the exhibitions that are on display on the date of your visit. You can also stay as long as you like. You are welcome at the Kunsthal from your designated start time until closing time. Book your start time.

  • In de Kunsthal Rotterdam zijn altijd meerdere wisselende en contrastrijke tentoonstellingen tegelijk te zien. Een volledig overzicht van alle actuele tentoonstellingen vind je op de tentoonstellingspagina.

All Frequently Asked Questions