Danse Macabre, 2015, by Botond Keresztesi. [Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
Sleeping Muse After Several Snoozes, the largest survey exhibition to date by Romanian-born Hungarian artist Botond Keresztesi and his first institutional solo show in China, is being held at the X Museum in Beijing.
Co-curated by Péter Bencze and Lyu Donghui, the show features 16 works spanning the last decade, showcasing Keresztesi's distinct visionary aesthetic, shaped through his unique "mental-photoshop" lens.
The title of the exhibition is taken fromConstantin Brancusi's masterpiece Sleeping Muse, a bronze sculpture of a tapered, egg-shaped sleeping head. This reflects Keresztesi's penchant for blending art historical references with contemporary digital culture, with his ever-evolving image-making practice transporting viewers into a speculative future deeply rooted in reflections of the present.
The exhibition runs until May 11.
Work Hard, Play Hard, 2018, by Botond Keresztesi. [Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
Forever Young, 2018, by Botond Keresztesi .[Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
Smoking Break (The opium smoker's dream series), 2022, by Botond Keresztesi .[Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
Artist Botond Keresztesi (center) poses for a group photo with curators Péter Bencze (left) and Lyu Donghui at the exhibition opening at X Museum in Beijing, on Feb 28, 2025.[Photo/Courtesy of X Museum]
Elysium, 2025, by Botond Keresztesi. [Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
Following the Golden Snake, 2025, by Botond Keresztesi. [Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]
When your Winchester flies…, 2017, by Botond Keresztesi. [Photo/Courtesy of the artist and Longtermhandstand]