VK | visits on art, design, architecture and literature

April 30, 2015

Munich; KEITH HARING “The political line” at KUNSTHALLE MUNCHEN

It was a wonderful to attend the preview of an amazing exhibition at Kunsthalle of Munich “Keith Haring _the political line”

HARING THE ARTIST AND ACTIVIST

For the first time in 15 years in Germany, and for the very first time in Munich, the Kunsthalle is presenting a solo exhibition on Keith Haring. More than 160 artworks attest to the diversity of his oeuvre: the early Subway Drawings, large-scale paintings on canvases and tarpaulins, sketches, sculptures and works in enamel. Documentary material puts the finishing touches to the picture of Haring the artist and activist. The exhibits are from museums and private collections in America and Europe, some on show for the first time since his death.

In New York, during the conservatism of the Reagan era, Keith Haring (1958–1990) made it his mission to highlight social evils in his work. He took a clear stance against the excesses of capitalism and was committed to nuclear disarmament, environmental protection and equal rights for all, irrespective of ethnicity, skin colour, religion or sexual orientation.

At the time of his death from AIDS- Keith Haring was only 31 years old, with a creative career of 10 years, he had achieved an international attention not just for his art but also for his political activism and he spoke openly about his illness.

In 1989, the artists set up the Keith Haring Foundation which its double mission is to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children and to raise awareness of AIDS and HIV without prejudice. Julia Gruen, the executive director of the Foundation attended the preview and the opening.

Roger Diederen, the director of Kunsthalle München hosted a lovely reception for his numerous international and Munich guests.

all photos@VK

“The public has a right to art. It is the responsibility of a ‘self-proclaimed artist’ to realize the public needs art, and not to make bourgeois art for the few and ignore the masses. Art is for everybody.”
KEITH HARING
Journals, 1978

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April 26, 2015

Munich; part of Kino der kunst ;an afternoon with Jasper Just at the Brandhorst Museum ; moderator Dr Bernhard Schwenk

Two years ago, in Munich was launched the reputable International festival KINO DER KUNST with great enthusiasm and as the Artistic Director Dr Heinz Peter Schwerfel says “thanks to the support of an initiative by Ingvild Goetz”.

The Kino der Kunst has set itself the goal of focusing on a small but signigicant niche: narrative film by visual artists. As Dr Scwerfel says, “we believe that contemporary fiction in particular gets to the heart of our present….a rigorous selection of films as well to the museum presentations that show how narrative artists’ films are lading the way…”

A series of artists talk are taking place since Thursday at the foyer of the Museum Brandhorst at 6.30 pm

I had the opportunity last night to attend the talk with Jasper Just, with Dr Bernhard Schwenk, chief curator at Pinakothek der Moderne, enjoy a quick view on clips of his recent work including his upcoming new project at Palais de Tokyo, Paris in June.. Superb artist!

Jasper Just, born in Copenhagen, lives in New York.Since 2000 has presented more than 25 films and installations. his most known “ It Will All End in Tears’ ,2006, This Nameless Spectacle, 2011, in 2013 he represented Denmark with “Intercourses’ at the 55th Biennale di Venezia.

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April 24, 2015

Munich; Kunstverein: Ann-Mie Van Kerckhoven and at Espace Louis Vuitton: Cory Arcangel

Attending preview opening for the Friends of Kunstverein München, k.m., a wonderful exhibition ” Serving Compressed Energy with Vacuum” by Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven, first exhibition by the newly arrived director of Kunsteverein, Chris Fitzpatrick. Next, a lovely coctail reception at the Espace Louis Vuitton of “Be the first of your friends”, the first monographic show of the American artist Cory Arcangel.

Curated by Chris Fitzpatrick and van Kerckhoven, this expansive exhibition will be the artist’s most comprehensive presentation to date, with 178 works produced between 1975 and 2015. Many of these are being exhibited for the first time, installed in an interwoven and anti-chronological configuration to show Van Kerckhoven’s practice as an interminable continuum of forms and ideas.

16 mm film. animation, drawing, graphics, installation, paintings, sculpture, silkscreen, sound, text, and video works are densely installed throughout Kunstverein four walls.

k.m preview opening, photos@AN

Espace Louis Vuitton “Be the first of your friends”, the first monographic show of the American artist Cory Arcangel.

Cory Arcangel is an artist who works in a variety of different mediums, including drawing, print, video, performance, and video game modifications. Often using appropriation, he creatively re-uses existing physical and digital materials to create works that oftentimes explore the relationship between technology and culture. Best known for his interest in video games and his highly digital aesthetic, Arcangel established himself through his work manipulating classic video games, altering their programming to distill fragments of their iconic imagery. Interested more generally in pop culture and pop culture nostalgia, Arcangel has taken as his subject other new media forms, including YouTube and blogs, using them to create works that explore their role in our cultural landscape. (http://www.artspace.com/cory_arcangel

Anja Kaehny, director of the Espace, Munich and Cory Arcangel, photo@vk

Cory Arcangel, Diddy / Lakes, 2013
1920 x 1080 H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 looped digital file (fromlossless Quicktime Animation master), media player, 70” flatscreen, armature, various cables, 200 x 93 x 28 cm

Collector Alain Servais on Insider Trading in the Art Market, “Blood-Sucking Leeches,” and Why We’re Now Just the Fashion Industry (May 23, 2015) on Artcangel.

Let’s say you put yourself in the year 2150, and you’re looking at your history books. What happened in the 2000s? I would say a few things. Religious war and the advent of the Internet throughout our lives—it’s like the invention of the electric light or the telegraph—and Internet 2.0, which is the social layer of Facebook and Twitter and all the rest. It is obvious that this is what will be remembered of today. So if there are artists who are creating interesting, questioning works that are talking about this evolution… and it’s not about doing geeky things, it’s not about doing gadgets. It’s about looking around, and looking around again.

Like Cory Arcangel’s early works that remove Mario from Super Mario Brothers and just leave the landscape of the clouds. They’re expressing something about looking at reality in another way—that’s why they’re works of art.

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April 2, 2015

Munich; ‘ZOOM! PICTURING ARCHITECTURE AND THE CITY ‘ Architekturmuseum at Pinakothek der Moderne

2.4.2015-21.6.2015

A crowded Pinakothek der Moderne last night preview opening to celebrate a fabulous exhibition “Zoom!Picturing Architecture and the City” curated by Dr Andres Lepik and Hilde Strobl. Amazingly presented.. Congrats to Dr Lepik and his team.

“The exhibition presents photographs and video works by eighteen contemporary international photographers. Their images focus on the complex interrelations among society, architecture, and urban spaces. They provide insight into how buildings actually operate once the building contractors have left the premises, and how city and town structures are impacted by economic factors, as well as their inhabitants’ social and cultural backgrounds. The evident failures often occurring in the planning or modification of buildings point to specific conclusions about people’s actual needs….”

….Images from Germany’s Oberpfalz region of Bavaria are exhibited next to images from Italy, Nigeria, and China, for instance, and the juxtapositions make similarities and differences quite apparent…..

On show are photographs and video works by Iwan Baan, Roman Bezjak, Peter Bialobrzeski, Lard Buurman, Stefan Canham and Rufina Wu, Nuno Cera, Livia Corona, Nicoló Degiorgos, Jörg Koopmann, Eva Leitolf, Myrzik und Jarisch, Stefan Olàh, Julian Röder, Simona Rota, Andreas Seibert, Wolfgang Tillmans, Fabian Vogl, and Tobias Zielony.

A two channel still video installation by Wolfgang Tillmans “Book of Architects’,2014 is eye catching. “…Book of Architects is not a book design but a video installation, presented as a looped projection of still images on two walls. My interest is not typological approach, but to show a sequence and an arrangement of images that echo what examples of the built environment look and feel like to me.” (Wolfgang Tillmans).

WOLFGANG TILLMANS, BOOK FOR ARCHITECTS, INSTALLATIONSANSICHT BIENNALE VENEDIG, 2014© Wolfgang Tillmans

Quite impressive the photographs “Instant Village”, 2010-2015 by Simona Rota “…The series ‘Instant Village’ arose out of the personal experiences of the photographer, who lived for several years in the Canary Islands and witnessed the developments there as tourism rose and fell. These works address a much broader theme, though – how we handle landscape as a resource. Rota sheds light on the role of the financial market and the disparity between short term market trends and the long terms impact of failed construction projects on their surroundings.”

I enjoyed very much Eva Leitlof “Postcards from Europe”

Eva Leitlof “Guitgia, Lampedusa. Italy 2012”

a bilingual publication has been published for this exhibition

Andres Lepik, Hilde Strobl (Ed.)

Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Cologne 2015
German/English | 208 pages | 180 images | 29,80 EUR
ISBN 978-3-86335-735-1

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March 22, 2015

Munich; Pinakothek der Moderne ” Expressive El Greco”, painting by El Greco is first work from the Alte Pinakothek to be shown at the Pinakothek der Moderne

28.11.2014 – 12.04.2015

What most inspiring than on Saturday morning step at Pinakothek der Moderne to see this amazing interesting small exhibition, “ Expressive El Greco”. The work ‘The Disrobing of Christ’ is the first work from the Alte Pinakothek to be shown in the Pinakothek der Moderne.. This quest appearance highlights a noteworthy art historical point: the beginning of the 20th century El Greco became a role model of central importance for many European artists. They enthusiastically examined his work and celebrated him as a prophet of Modernism.

Curators: Dr. Elisabeth Hipp, Dr. Oliver Kase

El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos) (1541-1614) and workshop, The Disrobing of Christ, bet. 1580 and 1595, oil on canvas, 165 x 98,8 cm © Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

‘The Disrobing of Christ’ had already been acquired for the Alte Pinakothek in 1909 by Hugo von Tschudi (1851-1911), one of the pioneering museum directors of this day, and was immediately integrated into the permanent collection. The painting is a smaller replica of the famous altarpiece in the sacristy of Toledo cathedral.

The exhibition “Expressive El Greco” unites several works by Expressionist and Cubist-Futurist artists who were known to be ardent admirers of El Greco orwho very probably gained important stimuli from his work.

During the partial closure of the Alte Pinakothek due to renovation work, this picture – that is very popular among visitors – has now been placed next to a number of works by Expressionist artists who indentified with El Greco’s painting in particular. These include Heinrich Maria Davringhausen, Robert Delaunay, Wilhelm Lehmbruck and Franz Marc, among others.

Heinrich Maria Davringhausen‘ s (grew up in Aachen, son of a factory owner is one of the founders and protagonists of New Objectivity),

Self Portrtait with Flower” of 1916 is a direct reference to El Greco’s ‘St. John the Baptist’ and ‘Female Nude in Architectural Setting’. These are narrow, large format figurative pictures that Davringhausen created in 1916. Both of these works were only rediscovered in the mid 1990s. Later defamed by the Nazis as ‘degenerate’, Davringhausen hid them at a friend’ s in Aachen before emigrating to Spain in 1933 and never showed them at exhibitions even after the war. “Female Nude in Architectural Setting” was acquired by the Pinakothek der Moderne in 2014.

Robert Delaunay’s ‘Saint Severin’ of 1909, Max Oppenheimer’ s ‘Portrait of Thannhauser’ 1911/12, Wilhelm Lehmruck’s ‘Bust of Youth Ascending, 1913/14 and Franz Marc’ s ‘Tyrol’,1914 are in the exhibition.

Wilhelm Lehmbruck, Bust of the Ascending youth, 1913-14. Terracotta, 50.5 x 47 x 32 cm © Bavarian State Collection of Paintings, Modern Art Collection in the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

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March 5, 2015

Munich_ “Louise Bourgeois. Structures of Existence: The Cells” at Haus der kunst

A beautiful evening, preview for the Freunde of Haus der kunst on wednesda February 25th for the amazing, powerful show “Louise Bourgeois. Structures of Existence: The Cells

exhibition: 27.02 – 02.08.15

Among the most innovative and challenging sculptural works in her extensive oeuvre are the “Cells”, a series of architectural spaces that preoccupied her for nearly 20 years. Bourgeois’s “Cells” are intensely psychological microcosms: situated within various enclosures, each is a multi-faceted collection of objects and sculptural forms arranged to evoke an atmosphere of emotional resonance….(Hdk presse release)

As Bourgeois stated: “The ‘Cells’ represent different types of pain: the physical, the emotional and psychological, and the mental and intellectual. When does the emotional become physical? When does the physical become emotional? It’s a circle going round and round. …Each ‘Cell’ deals with the pleasure of the voyeur, the thrill of looking and being looked at. The ‘Cells’ either attract or repulse each other. There is this urge to integrate, merge, or disintegrate.” (Louise Bourgeois, 1991)

more here

A beautiful catalogue “Structures of Existence; The Cells” edited by Julienne Lorz, with a foreword by Okwui Enwezor; with essays by Bart De Baere, Lynne Cooke, Kate Fowle, Jerry Gorovoy, Julienne Lorz, Griselda Pollock, Dionea Rocha Watt, Nancy Spector, and Ulrich Wilmes.

Published by Prestel 288 pages, approx. 90 color images,(in german or english)

On Thursday, 19.03 at 7 film screening at the Film Museum Munich “The Spider, The Mistress and The Tangerine”By Marion Cajori and Amei Wallach © Art Kaleidoscope Foundation, New York, distributed by Zeitgeist Films, 2008 (OV / 99 min)
Introduction: Julienne Lorz

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February 28, 2015

Munich; Bayerische Staatsoper: “Das Rheingold”, Richard Wagner

A spectacular opera performance last night at the Opera House in Munich, “Das Reingold”. Conceived by Wagner as a prologue to his monumental Ring cycle, ” Das Rheingold” sets forth the dramatic issues that play out in the three subsequent operas. Gold from the depths of the Rhine River is stolen by the dwarf Alberich, who uses it to forge a ring that will give him unlimited power. The theft sets in motion a course of events that will eventually alter the order of the universe.

more here

Musikalische: LeitungKirill Petrenko; Inszenierung:Andreas Kriegenburg ;Bühne:Harald B. Thor ;Kostüme:Andrea Schraad Licht:Stefan Bolliger; Choreographie:Zenta Haerter; Dramaturgie:Marion Tiedtke und Miron Hakenbeck
Wotan: Thomas J. Mayer; Donner:Levente Molnár; Froh:Dean Power ;Loge:Burkhard Ulrich; Alberich:Tomasz Konieczny Mime:Andreas Conrad ;Fasolt:Günther Groissböck Fafner:Christof Fischesser; Fricka: Elisabeth Kulman;Freia:AgaMikolaj; Erda:Okka von der Damerau; Woglinde:Hanna-Elisabeth Müller ;Wellgunde:Jennifer Johnston; Floßhilde:Nadine Weissmann

details on biographies and more photos here

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February 13, 2015

Munich;discussion at Haus der Kunst “Intolerable: Giving Offence and the Limits of Free Expression”

Haus der kunst organized on Thursday night, Feb 13th an evening panel with three leading thinkers to engage in a discussion that tried to illuminate critical questions. Panelists were Matthias Lilienthal (director of the Munich Kammerspiele from September 2015), Hito Steyerl (filmmaker and author (born in 1966 in Munich) lives and works in Berlin) and Joachim Bernauer (director of the Goethe-Institut’s department of culture); the moderator is Okwui Enwezor, director Haus der Kunst.

“The recent killings of journalists and police guards in the Paris offices of the satirical French magazine “Charlie Hebdo” have brought to public debate fresh appraisals of the relationship between intolerance, free expression, censorship, and the right to offend sensibilities, be they cultural or religious, political, or ideological. But there is not always an easy distinction of where to draw the limit of free speech and who has the right to impose a limit on expression, regardless of how offensive such expression may be deemed.

At the same time, questions posed by the killings in Paris can be analyzed from the view of the current conflicted state of global, multicultural societies. This issue becomes urgent, particularly when giving offence converges with intolerance under the guise of free expression. But is there a point when offensive images, expressions, and representations become intolerable? Is intolerance of certain types of expression the same as censorship of thought? Can there ever be a limitless sphere of free expression in today’s increasingly plural, multicultural, transnational, and global societies? These questions are all the more pertinent within the realm of artistic and cultural practice, particularly as they meet at the point where institutions must provide an open and unrestricted space for challenging ideas and concepts.” (haus der kunst, press release)

more at Haus der kunst details

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February 11, 2015

Munich; Villa Stuck, opening of “Common Grounds”

12 February-17 May 2015 ; a very interesting exhibition opened Wednesday night at Villa Stuck, “Common Grounds” curated by Verena Hein

artists: Susan Hefuna, Sophia Al Maria, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige,Bouchra Khalili, Nasser Al Salem, Ahmed Mater,Dor Guez, DAAR ‒ Decolonising Architecture Art Residency (established in in Palestine in 2007 by Sandi Hilal, Alessandro Petti, and Eyal Weizmann),Babak Golkar, Parastou Forouhar, Abbas Akhavan.

“The rising cities of the Gulf region and arenas of conflict in the Middle East are captivating subjects of media coverage. Both in terms of their content and through their manipulative aesthetic, the often extreme images from these areas shape our western view of the region. Twelve artists counter this flood of images with more diverse artistic practices that reflect on social conditions. Some of these artists ‒ Ahmed Mater, Hazem Harb, and Nasser Al Salem ‒ are for the first time introduced to the German and Munich public….. The exhibition title refers to the concept of “grounding” in communication theory, which posits that communication partners share common knowledge, which allows for dialog to be successful.” (Villa Stuck Press release)

more here

following the opening exhibition an Artist Panel followed with Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern, London and the following artists:
Abbas Akhavan, Parastou Forouhar, Babak Golkar, Susan Hefuna, and Ahmed Mater, with an introduction by Maya El Khalil, director of Athr Gallery, Jeddah

full program

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February 5, 2015

Munich; walk thru_Haus der kunst with Okwui Enwezor of the exhibition David Adjaye: Form, Heft, Material

Thursday, february 5th at 7 pm : A walk thru with Okwui Enwezor, director of Haus der Kunst, with the Freunde of the exhibition that just opened few days ago of the heterogeneous work architect David Adjaye (b. 1966): “Form, Heft, Material”

The survey exhibition, the most extensive of Adjaye’s career, is organized by Haus der Kunst and Art Institute of Chicago. It is curated by Okwui Enwezor, director of Haus der Kunst, Munich, and Zoë Ryan, John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The heterogeneous work of architect David Adjaye (b. 1966) comprises approximately 50 built projects – from luxury shops and museums to libraries and social housing. His most recent commissions include the design of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., as well as the National Museum of Slavery and Freedom in Cape Coast, Ghana. The buildings of the Ghanaian-British architect are often developed in collaboration with artist friends, including the homes he designed for Chris Ofili, Sue Webster and Tim Noble, and Lorna Simpson and James Casebere (Haus der kunst, press release)

photos@VK (walk thru)

but here at picture gallery, you see some of Adjaye’s architecture

Lectures and Seminars:
Thursday, 05.03, 7 pm
“Role Models: Approximations to David Adjaye”
Lecture by Nikolaus Hirsch, Respondent: Okwui Enwezor
In English

Friday, 06.03, 10 am – 2 pm
“Bau-Kunst”
Half-day seminar held by Nikolaus Hirsch
In German

Thursday, 09.04, 7 pm
“Form, Heft, Material — Works 2000-2014”
Lecture by David Adjaye
In English

more details here

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k.m preview opening, photos@AN

Anja Kaehny, director of the Espace, Munich and Cory Arcangel, photo@vk

Cory Arcangel, Diddy / Lakes, 2013 1920 x 1080 H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 looped digital file (from​lossless Quicktime Animation master), media player, 70” flatscreen, armature, various cables, 200 x 93 x 28 cm

Like Cory Arcangel’s early works that remove Mario from Super Mario Brothers and just leave the landscape of the clouds. They’re expressing something about looking at reality in another way—that’s why they’re works of art.

Cory Arcangel, Diddy / Lakes, 2013
1920 x 1080 H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 looped digital file (fromlossless Quicktime Animation master), media player, 70” flatscreen, armature, various cables, 200 x 93 x 28 cm