Truth? brings art and science into the same room of doubt
Editors ·
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave explores how art and science question what we take to be true through 3 January 2027. The exhibition brings 27 artworks together alongside scientific objects.
What makes something true: the evidence, the person telling it, or the way we look? Truth? The Art of Doubt places that question alongside current concerns about disinformation, fake news and artificial intelligence. The exhibition has been on view at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave since April.
The show includes 27 artworks and is arranged around four themes: Storytellers of Truth, Beacons of Truth, Blurring Truth and Seeking Truth. The museum brings contemporary art together with scientific objects from its collection and loans.
Artists including Ruud van Empel, Nick Ervinck, patricia kaersenhout and Hans Op de Beeck are represented. Loans come from institutions including GUM in Ghent, Naturalis, the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, Teylers Museum and Utrecht University Museum.
The concept began at GUM, where the exhibition was shown in 2024 and 2025 as The Cabinet of Curiosities of Truth. Boerhaave added objects from its own collection and loans. Curator Tim Huisman says the combination shows how fragile and valuable the search for truth can be.
The museum’s website gives 3 January 2027 as the final day.