Cosima von Bonin at Mudam Luxembourg: "Songs for Gay Dogs"
The exhibition "Songs for Gay Dogs" at Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, which will be open to the public until March 3rd, 2025, is a celebration of Cosima von Bonin's career. This show, the largest by an artist outside Germany in more than a decade, occupies not only the galleries on the first floor but also the impressive Grand Hall of the museum.
LEFT: Cosima von Bonin, WHAT IF IT BARKS 4 (Black Ukulele Version), 2018 Courtesy of the artist and Petzel Gallery, New York; RIGHT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg, Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
Artist Biography
Cosima von Bonin was born in 1962 in Mombasa, Kenya, and has since developed her artistic career in Germany, where she currently lives and works, mainly in Cologne. Her work is known for exploring the intersection between art and popular culture, using a variety of media including textiles, sculpture, and multimedia installations. Von Bonin is often celebrated for her critical and playful approach, which subverts cultural icons and luxury industry emblems to comment on power relations and mass consumption. She has a distinguished history of exhibitions in major institutions and galleries around the world and is a prominent figure in contemporary art.
 View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
Inspirations and Methods
"First of all, I never explain my work," Cosima von Bonin declared at the beginning of a 2018 interview with Brooklyn Rail. This stance reflects a core philosophy in von Bonin's art: art should speak for itself, provoking questions and interpretations without the need for direct explanations. This approach allows the audience to engage with her works in a more intimate and personal manner, exploring the layers of meaning and cultural resonance that von Bonin skillfully weaves into her installations and sculptures.
LEFT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg; RIGHT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
Exhibition Works
The exhibition at Mudam Luxembourg is designed in close dialogue with the artist and unfolds across the galleries on the first floor and the Grand Hall. The show highlights newly produced works and some never exhibited before, including a selection of iconic textile panels, sculptures, and installations that reflect von Bonin’s ongoing interest in subverting cultural norms. A large-scale site-specific intervention composed of a set of sculptures arranged on two giant tables transforms the Grand Hall into a distorted playground, where everyday objects are enlarged to alter our perception of space. This installation includes anthropomorphic marine creatures and cultural figures such as Donald Duck and Bambi, incorporating various swings, a slide, and a bikini, creating a playful and critical narrative.
LEFT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg; RIGHT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg. Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
Perspectives and Themes
The influence of experimental electronic music is manifested through soundscapes composed by Moritz von Oswald, adding a layer of sensory immersion to the exhibition. The 'CosiKino' program complements the show with a selection of films that reflect themes and motifs present in von Bonin's work, including performances by drag queens and an exclusive concert, highlighting the artist's strategy of collective and collaborative production.
LEFT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg. Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg; RIGHT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg, Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
"Songs for Gay Dogs" is a multifaceted artistic experience that challenges visitors to reflect on power dynamics, consumption, and mass culture through a unique and provocative artistic approach. As visitors navigate this exhibition, they are invited to explore the complexity of contemporary social and cultural relationships.
LEFT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg; RIGHT: View of the exhibition Cosima von Bonin: Songs for Gay Dogs, 11.10.2024 — 02.03.2025, Mudam Luxembourg. Photo: Mareike Tocha © Mudam Luxembourg
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