Tilda Swinton: Ongoing — A Living Exhibition of Collaboration and Curiosity

Amsterdam’s Eye Filmmuseum opened its doors to Tilda Swinton – Ongoing, an exhibition dedicated to the Scottish actress, performer, and style icon, celebrating her restless creativity and lifelong artistic collaborations. The opening night brought together some of Swinton’s closest friends and collaborators, including filmmakers Joanna Hogg and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, fashion photographer Tim Walker, and curator Olivier Saillard.

The evening featured a surprise performance by musician Nick Cave, heartfelt speeches by Swinton herself and Eye director Bregtje van der Haak, and a DJ set by London underground legend Princess Julia. Following the festivities, guests toured the exhibition, which will remain on view from 28 September 2025 through 8 February 2026. Swinton is also scheduled to make regular appearances at Eye for live conversations and to present two performances: A Biographical Wardrobe and Bliss #2.

In her opening remarks, Swinton set the tone for the exhibition: “We have put together a show about curiosity. About being a young person. About growing older. About following your nose and sharing the load. About unknown outcomes and breadcrumbs through the forest… About fun. About fellowship and trust. And about cinema. Hallelujah one and all. On we go.”

Tilda Swinton by Tim Walker.

For van der Haak, the project represents something uniquely alive: “Tilda Swinton: Ongoing is a personal and daring project. It’s a living collection — of Tilda’s ideas, films, friendships, and memories. She reminds us that art and film are never made alone, but always together. Film is never finished, but always in motion, forever ongoing.”

At the core of the exhibition are Swinton’s collaborations with eight artistic partners who have profoundly shaped her career: Pedro Almodóvar, Luca Guadagnino, Joanna Hogg, Derek Jarman, Jim Jarmusch, Olivier Saillard, Tim Walker, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The show combines both new commissions and existing works, highlighting the dialogue and trust between artist and collaborators.

Alongside the exhibition, visitors will find an extensive film programme, a nationwide release of Derek Jarman’s Caravaggio, public talks, performances, and a special bilingual publication released by Rizzoli and Hannibal Books. Tilda Swinton – Ongoing is less a retrospective than a living journey: a celebration of creativity, friendship, and cinema’s infinite possibilities.