Frankfurter Kunstverein presents (Art)Histories in the Steinernes Haus – To the People of the City, on view until February 3, 2013.
Wiebke Grosch/Frank Metzger, Dies alles, Herzchen, hat einmal uns gehört, 2008. Exhibition view, Frankfurter Kunstverein 2012. Photo: Norbert Miguletz; © Frankfurter Kunstverein 2012.
The Frankfurter Kunstverein was founded in 1829 and has since long enjoyed the status of a reputed international institution. In the late fall of 1962, the Kunstverein took up residence in the Steinernes Haus on the Römerberg, and since then has presented some 400 exhibitions and thousands of events at this location. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Frankfurter Kunstverein in the Steinerne Haus, we look back on our exhibition history at this location. A comprehensive anniversary program traces the development of the Kunstverein, the artistic currents that it has promoted, and the general and local historical contexts of its activities. The program brings together many different perspectives: the views of the institution’s former directors, members and friends, neighboring art institutions, the city and its inhabitants, and artists—thus creating a multi-faceted reflection on five decades of art (hi)stories at the Steinernes Haus. In addition to many panel discussions and workshops, an “Art Slam!” and “KunstMusik,” an evening of concerts and performances with artists from the Frankfurt area, will be part of the anniversary celebration.
Forming the backdrop for the program are two parallel exhibitions. Posters, publications, photographs, archival objects, and internal documents give an overview of the activities of the Kunstverein. On the third and fourth floors, the exhibition To the People of the City presents three large-scale installations by Wiebke Grösch and Frank Metzger, which draw on the recent history of the Kunstverein and the city of Frankfurt, as well as relating to specific artistic positions of the past 50 years and conceptual art of the present.
Auction to benefit the exhibition program
January 30, 2013, 7pm
As in the past, financing the exhibition program of the Frankfurt Kunstverein still remains a major challenge today. Well-known artists associated with the institution have provided works for an auction, whose profits will support future programming:
Edith Amituanai, Tilo Baumgärtel, Thomas Bayrle, Viktoria Binschtok, Wolf Böwig, Andrea Büttner, Peter Buggenhout, Jochen Flinzer, Tue Greenfort, Wiebke Grösch & Frank Metzger, Florian Haas, Paule Hammer, Jitka Hanzlová, Thomas Huber, Sven Johne, Barbara Klemm, Ola Kolehmainen, Susanne Kühn, Urs Lüthi, Antje Majewski, Hannes Michanek, Shahryar Nashat, Wanda Pratschke, Inge Rambow, Thomas Rentmeister, Michael Riedel, Egill Sæbjörnsson, Tomás Saraceno, Hans Christian Schink, Beat Streuli and Thomas Werner. Auctioneer: Henrik Hanstein (Kunsthaus Lempertz, Köln).
Estimated prices for the works (sculptures, objects, photographs, paintings, drawings, prints etc.) range from 600 to 15.000 Euro. Bids are accepted also by mail or telephone.
Frankfurter Kunstverein
Markt 44 60311 Frankfurt, Germany
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11–7pm;
Wednesday 11–9pm; Saturday, Sunday, 10–7pm
www.fkv.de