25 – The Anniversary Exhibition of the Deutsche Bank
Collection
The world’s largest corporate art collection
is celebrating its 25th year of existence with a spectacular anniversary
show at the Deutsche Guggenheim. “25” presents outstanding works ranging
from Classical Modernism to the very latest approaches in contemporary
art, chosen by 25 “godparents”. These prominent friends and companions of
the Collection from the worlds of business and the arts have chosen their
personal favorites for this anniversary exhibition. In addition, the
Curator’s Choice section takes a look at the future of the Deutsche Bank
Collection. The visionary design of the exhibition, by London’s star
architect Zaha Hadid, turns the exhibition space on Unter den Linden into
a sort of course of art. Achim Drucks introduces the birthday show
“25”.
Max Ernst, Le Capricorne, (1948-64)
in the courtyard of the Deutschen Bank, Düsseldorf
An archaic pair of monarchs holds court in front of the
Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin. Like regents from another world, the
mythical figures are enthroned in the middle of Berlin’s loveliest
boulevard, in the center of the city.
Le Capricorne is the name of this impressive bronze sculpture by the
Surrealist Max Ernst, which
will serve as a welcoming committee to visitors of the anniversary show
25 until June 19, 2005. The piece, chosen for this exhibition by art
advisor Dr. Christoph Graf Douglas, shows the way to the exhibition, which
unfolds inside the Deutsche Guggenheim. For 25, the prominent
architect Zaha Hadid has
radically altered the exhibition hall and surrounding rooms of the bank
building, turning them into a tunneled, spheric landscape that is organic
and technical at the same time.
Exihibition design by Zaha Hadid for "25"
at Deutsche Guggenheim, Sketch, (c) Zaha Hadid Ltd.
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The visionary interior design of the exhibition forms the
unusual framework for the nearly 300 masterpieces from the Deutsche Bank
Collection. To mark its 25th year, 25 companions and friends were invited
to choose exceptional works from the Collection – their favorite pieces,
which embody for them the Bank’s spirit of commitment to art, and which
have personal meaning for them. These “godparents” – museum directors,
curators, gallery owners, longtime advisors, and members of the Bank’s
board of directors – portray their individual views of the corporate
collection (a list of the godparents can be found
here). The resulting selection is appropriately multi-faceted, ranging
from examples of
Neue Sachlichkeit such as
George Grosz’ biting watercolor Menschen im Kaffeehaus (1918)
to Bill Viola’s allegorical,
high-tech video installation
Going Forth By Day (2002).
Bill Viola, Going Forth By Day (Detail), The Voyage, 2002,
(c) Deutsche Guggenheim, Berlin/ Bill Viola
Today,
the world’s largest corporate art collection encompasses more than 50,000
works. While the emphasis is on works on paper, painting, sculpture and
video installation are also represented, and round out the immense
inventory that represents a century of art – from Classical Modernism to
recent works. So what’s the most appropriate way to celebrate the
Collection’s anniversary? In order to review its history, document its
current status and visualize the future direction of Deutsche Bank’s art
program, Dr. Ariane Grigoteit, director of the Collection and curator of
this exhibition, has struck a new path: “We don’t want to make it too easy
for the visitor, and we don’t want to be too pleasing. The Deutsche Bank
Collection is a young collection that has always been oriented towards the
future. We want to allow people to notice and experience that with all
their senses.” With that in mind, Grigoteit developed a concept that
incorporates the collection’s art historical context, but does not simply
take a linear path through 100 years of art. “The history of 20th century
art and the corporate collection can be told in an endless variety of
ways,” says the curator. “It’s absolutely deliberate that the visitor is
lead through a labyrinth of ideas, visual impressions and historical
references. The exhibition encourages visitors to come up with their own
impressions, and head off the beaten path.”
Yutaka Sone: Birthday Party,1997
Deutsche Bank Collection, (c) Yutaka Sone, Gallery SIDE 2, Tokyo
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