Image: New World, Düsseldorf
Mudam Luxembourg is presenting 'Between Then and Now', an exhibition by South African artist Igshaan Adams that runs until 16 August 2026 at the museum in Luxembourg. Conceived by the artist and described by Mudam as a woven timeline of his work, the show is built around materials, memories and references that carry what the museum calls residues of history and echoes of his past.
Mudam’s exhibition page identifies Florence Ostende as curator, assisted by Anaël Daoud. The museum situates the presentation within its wider contemporary art programme, and the exhibition opened on 10 February 2026. It is one of several summer shows listed by the institution, alongside 'Seven Paintings – Seven Encounters: Mudam Collection' and Simon Fujiwara’s 'A Whole New World', but 'Between Then and Now' is presented as a distinct solo exhibition focused on Adams’ practice.
According to Mudam, Adams was born in Cape Town in 1982 and creates layered compositions that blur the boundaries between textiles, sculpture and performance. The artist’s early interest in weaving began with handmade baskets collected by his family during his childhood. Mudam also notes that he deliberately avoided formal weaving training so that his practice could develop from “not-knowing,” a phrase quoted on the exhibition page. The museum further describes Adams’ work as drawing on personal memory, spirituality and shared histories, and as transforming overlooked materials from daily life in Cape Town into reflections on identity, value and belonging.
The exhibition is linked to the artist’s upbringing in Bonteheuwel, a racially segregated suburb of Cape Town during apartheid. Mudam says those experiences placed him at the intersection of conflicting identities and inform his practice, which often explores healing and transformation. The exhibition framing positions these concerns not as background biography but as active material within the installation, with the museum emphasising how Adams’ work carries historical and emotional residue.
Mudam says the show begins with an expansive installation of textile swatches that visitors are invited to touch, an opening gesture that immerses viewers in Adams’ studio environment. His signature tapestries and 'cloud' sculptures are presented alongside his dance prints, shown here for the first time as a large-scale environment. The museum describes these elements as forming a silent choreography that turns movement into a language of liberation.
The exhibition pages also provide visitor information in English, French and German, together with access notes and an exhibition booklet in easy-to-read language. Mudam’s online materials include an interview with Adams and miniguides in multiple languages. 'Between Then and Now' remains on view at Mudam Luxembourg, Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, in Luxembourg, until 16 August 2026.
