Sigmar Polke – The Knowledge of Colours is now on view at De Pont Museum in Tilburg, bringing together more than 50 works by one of Germany’s most influential post-war artists. The exhibition runs until 28 February 2027 and focuses on Polke’s experiments with colour, materials and painting from the 1980s through the late 2000s.
German artist Sigmar Polke (1941–2010) was one of the most influential and experimental figures in postwar art. Working across painting, photography, film and other media, he constantly explored new materials and techniques. His work is marked by a playful, questioning approach that challenged established social, political and artistic conventions.
It is the first major presentation of Polke’s work in the Netherlands since his 1992 retrospective at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Developed with the Anna Polke Foundation, the exhibition includes works from major Dutch institutions as well as international private and public collections.
From the 1980s onwards, colour became a particularly important part of his practice. He experimented with pigments, resins, lacquers and other materials, often allowing chemical reactions and chance to influence the final result.
The exhibition includes some of his best-known works from this period, including Farbtafeln 1–8 (1986–87/1992) from the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Radioaktiver Abfall (1992), Goldklumpen (1982) from the Van Abbemuseum and Hermes Trismegistos I–IV (1995) from De Pont’s own collection.
A central section brings together Hermes Trismegistos I–IV with Polke’s eight monochromatic Farbtafeln. The combination highlights his interest in colour as both a physical material and a subject in its own right.
Polke’s experiments were also influenced by his travels, particularly his journeys through Southeast Asia in the early 1980s. His interest in different cultural approaches to colour contributed to Athanor, his installation for the German Pavilion at the 1986 Venice Biennale, for which he received the Golden Lion.
The exhibition continues through Polke’s later work, including his experiments with transparency, light and interference. Together, the works demonstrate how his approach to painting continued to change over several decades.
The Knowledge of Colours forms part of Sigmar Polke: Athanor NOW, an international research and education project organised by the Anna Polke Foundation, marking 40 years since Polke’s Venice Biennale presentation.
De Pont Museum remains a leading contemporary art museum in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Its collection includes major international artists such as Anish Kapoor, Marlene Dumas and Ai Weiwei and the museum is known for its focused exhibitions and distinctive industrial architecture.
