From Dawn Till Dusk: Shadows and light at the Kunstmuseum Bonn

January 3, 2026 4 minute read see also thread comments

In October 2025, I visited the exhibition From Dawn Till Dusk. Der Schatten in der Kunst der Gegenwart at the Kunstmuseum Bonnꜛ (July 3, to November 2, 2025). The exhibition traces the role of shadow from early artistic origins to contemporary practice. Starting from ancient accounts such as Pliny the Elder’s story of the traced shadow as the origin of painting, and philosophical reflections like Plato’s cave allegory, the exhibition situates shadow as a central image-producing element rather than a mere byproduct of light. It brings together around 40 international artistic positions and examines shadow as something that moves between presence and absence, materiality and immateriality, index and projection. The spectrum ranges from existential and psychological dimensions to political and media-reflexive questions. Participating artists include, among others, Vito Acconci, David Claerbout, Marlene Dumas, Hans-Peter Feldmann, William Kentridge, Gerhard Richter, Kara Walker, Jeff Wall, and Tim Noble & Sue Webster.

Kunstmuseum Bonn (main entrance).

What I liked most were the light–shadow interactions and the creativity of the installations. Many works used shadow in playful, surprising, or unsettling ways, sometimes as a sharply defined form, sometimes as something barely noticeable, sometimes as something that seemed to detach itself from its source. I found it enjoyable to simply move through the exhibition and let these visual situations unfold without trying to read them symbolically. Here are some photos from the visit.

Here are some impressions from the exhibition along with snaps from the other exhibitions that were on display at the same time. Unfortunately, I do not have information about all the artworks shown below:

Kunstmuseum Bonn, main entrance area.

Wall-installation in the entrance area.

Entrance into the exhibition From Dawn Till Dusk.

Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Claudio Parmiggiani, 1943 in Luzzare, lives in Parma, Autoritratto Come Ombra, Photogrephic emulsion on canvas. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Christian Boltanski, 1944 in Paris - 2021 in Paris, Théâtre D’ombres, 1984, Dolls made of sheet metal, metal housing, projectors, fan, transformer. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Olafur Eliasson, 1967 in Copenhagen, lives in Berlin and Copenhagen, Your Uncertain Shadow (Growing), 2010, Halogen lamps, glass, aluminium, transformers. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition. This actually me, standing in front of the installation. The installation creates a shadow that grows and shrinks as you move closer or farther from the light source.

Jenna Gribbon, 1978 in Knoxville, lives in New York, Me, a Lurker, 2020, Oil on canvas. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Jeff Wall, 1946 in Vancouver, lives in Vancouver, Passerby, 1996, Gelatine silver print. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

“The handshake”. Part of the From Dawn Till Dusk exhibition.

Thomas Demand, 1964 in München, lebt in Berlin und Los Angeles, Bathroom, 1997, C-print, Diasec, Ed. 2/5. Part of another exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Part of another exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

A hallway in the museum.

Monika Baer, 1964 Freiburg, lebt in Berlin, Ohne Titel, Öl auf Leinwand. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Rosemarie Trockel, 1952 Schwerte, lebt in Köln, Dear Lovely Colleges, 1982, Wolle, Plastik. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Andreas Gefeller, 1970 in Düsseldorf, 005 and 045 (Aurora Urbanis), 2024, Inkjetprint auf Fine Art Paper. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Norbert Schwontkowski, 1949 Bremen - 2013 Bremen, Ohne Titel, Öl, Pigment auf Leinwand. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Adam Adach, 1962 Warschau, lebt in Paris, Wilk (Teil 1 und 2), 2007, Öl auf Leinwand. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Adam Adach, 1962 Warschau, lebt in Paris, Vacant, 2004. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Part of another exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Maximilian Kirmse, 1986 Berlin, lebt in Berlin, N.B.S. II, 2018, Öl auf Leinwand. Part of another exhibition (the permanent one?) at the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection.

Permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection (“Rheinische Sammlung”).

Franz M. Jansen, 1885 Köln - 1958 Büchel/Sieg-Kreis, Promenade 1925, Oil on canvas, mounted on cardboard. Part of the permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection.

August Macke, 1887 Meschede - 1914 Perthes-les-Hurlus, Gemüsefelder 1911, Oil on canvasmounted on plywood. Part of the permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection.

August Macke, 1887 Meschede - 1914 Perthes-les-Hurlus, Anni mit Walter 1912, Oil on canvas. Part of the permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection.

August Macke, 1887 Meschede - 1914 Perthes-les-Hurlus, Kinder im Garten (Marienkirche in Bonn), 1912, Oil on canvas. Part of the permanent exhibition of the Rhenish Collection.