Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses – Bonnefanten Museum | 10.05.-28.09.2025

With ‘Nature Never Loses’, the Bonnefanten Museum is putting the visionary work of Carl Cheng (*1942, San Francisco) in the European spotlight for the first time from 10 May 2025.

Obb. oben: Carl Cheng, Erosion Machine No. 4, 1969-2020, Courtesy the artist and Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, Photo: Jeff McLane, Los Angeles, California

The exhibition is the first retrospective of the Chinese-American artist in Europe and offers an extraordinary and comprehensive overview of six decades of his pioneering, cross-genre artistic work.

Cheng is one of the quiet pioneers of an art form that relates nature, technology and society to each other. His works are both poetic and critical – they challenge us to reflect on our relationship with the natural environment.

Despite his visionary approach, Carl Cheng’s work remained largely unknown for decades – both in Europe and in the United States.

The artist rarely worked with galleries and many of his works were in his own possession for a long time.
The exhibition therefore offers a unique opportunity to experience all facets of his oeuvre in their entirety for the first time – from conceptual artworks in public spaces, photographic sculptures and interactive installations with recycled materials to his futuristic tools and nature machines that imitate natural processes.

The exhibition organises Cheng’s almost complete oeuvre into six thematic areas, each of which opens up a different view of art and creative experimentation with nature and technology.

WHEN?

Exhibition dates: Saturday, 10. May – Sunday. 28. September 2025

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

WHERE?

Bonnefantenmuseum
Avenue Ceramique 250
6221 KX Maastricht
The Netherlands