The exhibition Mr. Goodman: The Kiteman presents a fascinating overview of kites from around the world. The selection of more than 250 kites comes from the collection of British collector Malcolm Goodman. He managed to acquire more than 500 examples during his travels to some fifty countries. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with The Kite Club.
The kite is one of the oldest flying objects ever made by humans. For centuries, different cultures have used kites for a wide variety of purposes: as ritual objects, weapons, or toys. During the Second World War, they were even used as radio antennas for downed aircrew. The collection of Malcolm Goodman brings together many of these surprising uses.
Singing, healing, fighting
Among the kites on display are examples that were traditionally hung above the bed of a sick person for three days. The line was then cut and the kite released, carrying the illness away on the wind. Others hum and sing: fitted with bamboo flutes and strings, they sound like musical instruments in the air.
The exhibition also features hand-painted Japanese kites created by master craftsmen who are recognised in their country as Living National Treasures. Another highlight is a group of large rectangular and hexagonal fighting kites, with which kite teams in Japan have been trying to cut each other’s lines for more than three centuries.
Malcolm Goodman
Collector Malcolm Goodman became fascinated with kites in the mid-1970s during travels through China and Japan. What began as curiosity grew into a lifelong pursuit. Goodman visited and organised kite festivals, travelled to more than fifty countries, and built a collection of around five hundred kites, most of them from Asia.
In 2003, Goodman and his wife Jeanette purchased an old bed and breakfast in Middleton-in-Teesdale, England, with the plan of turning it into a kite museum. Room after room was filled with kites, but permission to open the museum was never granted due to fire safety regulations. A photo series in the exhibition offers a glimpse inside this extraordinary house.
The Kite Club
The exhibition at Kunsthal Rotterdam is presented in collaboration with The Kite Club, consisting of still-life photographers Liesbeth Abbenes and Maurice Scheltens, creative director Peter Hebbing, and designer Bertjan Pot. They make their own kites and share their passion on Instagram. After meeting Malcolm Goodman, The Kite Club decided to document his collection in a publication and develop a travelling exhibition. The presentation at Kunsthal Rotterdam marks the first stop on this journey.
About your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip listThe Kunsthal is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. The Kunsthal Café opens half an hour earlier, so you can visit from 9:30 hrs until half an hour after closing time. Check the current opening hours.
Yes, you need to book a ticket with a start time in advance. This also applies if you have a Museum card, Rotterdam pass, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible. Book your start time.
Yes, with an online ticket, you can visit all the exhibitions that are on display on the date of your visit. You can also stay as long as you like. You are welcome at the Kunsthal from your designated start time until closing time. Book your start time.
In de Kunsthal Rotterdam zijn altijd meerdere wisselende en contrastrijke tentoonstellingen tegelijk te zien. Een volledig overzicht van alle actuele tentoonstellingen vind je op de tentoonstellingspagina.