With his dry-humour drawings, strange installations and sharp observations, British artist David Shrigley (1968) takes a funny but critical look at everyday life and the art world. In What the Hell Was I Thinking?, Shrigley turns that gaze on himself and invites you straight into his head. For Kunsthal Rotterdam, he brings together a wide mix of his most offbeat works – from a three-metre-tall nude figure and inflatable sculptures to a meteorite horseshoe and bits of fluff fighting each other. With humour and simple ideas, Shrigley explores failure, doubt and the weirdness of daily life.

What the Hell Was I Thinking | David Shrigley
More events at
Kunsthal Rotterdam

Feel the vibe with Kunsthal LIVE
During Museumnacht010, we immerse you in the true Kunsthal LIVE vibe. With music by Pretty Girls Like Trap Music and Hip Hop In Je Smoel, plus unexpected performances and activities, you’ll discover multiple highlights in one night.
20:00 - 01:00

Tattoo event by David Shrigley
Artist David Shrigley is creating live tattoos right in the middle of his exhibition, "What the Hell Was I Thinking?"
21:00 - 23:00

They have always been here | Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
At the Kunsthal, you’ll see the first solo exhibition in the Netherlands by Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai-Violet Hwami (1993). For this show, she created new work, including layered paintings, digitally edited photographs and her very first bronze sculptures.
20:00 - 01:00
An Absurdist Night at the Kunsthal
Step into the offbeat world of David Shrigley at the Kunsthal during Museumnacht010. His exhibition What the Hell Was I Thinking?
20:00 - 01:00
Also nearby:

Urban Survivors - Squeaking truths and a dose of courage
After closing time, the Museumpark is anything but quiet. Every corner is teeming with scurrying, rustling, and squeaking creatures.
20:00 - 01:00

Walk-in workshop Beyond Surrealism
The Education Studio opens its doors for a free walk-in workshop inspired by Beyond Surrealism. Join others in creating a cadavre exquis: everyone adds their own piece of collage or drawing.
20:30 - 01:00

-1 Digital Lab
As you descend the industrial-looking metal stairs into the basement of the Nieuwe Instituut, you’ll find our hub for digital culture: -1 Digital Lab, surrounded by humming servers at the heart of the building. It’s a living laboratory, where digital creators experiment with new techniques, as well as a space for showcasing new work.
20:00 - 01:00

Cult North x Moze Naél
Cult North offers young, self-taught artists from Rotterdam a place for development and inspiration. Spoken word artist Moze Naél guided five talented young people to create a spoken word performance to share during Museumnacht010.
20:30 - 23:45