Artists: Nevin Aladag, Thomas Bayrle, Henning Bohl, Heike Bollig, Ulla von Brandenburg, Andreas Brehmer/Sirko Knüpfer, Michael Buthe, Helmut Dorner, Jeanne Faust, Julika Gittner, Asta Gröting, Niels Hanisch, Myriam Holme, Viola Klein, Seb Koberstädt, Michael Krebber, Svenja Kreh, Kalin Lindena, Daniel Megerle, Anna Kerstin Otto, Manfred Pernice, Marion Porten, Mandla Reuter, Evelyn Richter, Eske Schlüters, Stafeta, Lee Thomas Taylor, Stefanie Trojan, Danh Vo, Gabriel Vormstein, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Herwig Weiser, Tobias Zielony, plucked violin production.
Selected by: Ariane Beyn (Berlin), Anja Dorn (Cologne), Peter Gorschlüter (Düsseldorf), Iris Kadel (Karlsruhe), Chistiane Mennicke (Dresden), Nina Möntmann (Hamburg), Vanessa Joan Müller (Frankfurt am Main), Julia Schäfer (Leipzig), Judith Schwarzbart (Munich)
The exhibition Germany is searching intends to provide an insight into current tendencies of new art in Germany.
With the aim of creating the widest possible open framework, nine curators from different regions of Germany were each invited to nominate three young artists. These should be little known or not yet established in the art scene, yet their work should be significant to current developments in contemporary art.
In addition the curators each proposed an established artist to provide a historical or artistic reference, who could contribute to a clarification of the works chosen.
The conceptual openness of the exhibition, the approach which spans generations, as well as the absence of any excluding thematic stipulation, allows a variety of work to be considered. Being exhibited together makes possible a discussion about consensus and differences.
The exhibition title Germany is searching refers to political and social present-day Germany, and intends to reveal the context from which German art is emerging or has emerged. Not only economically and politically, but also mentally, Germany seems at the moment to be searching for its role in a fundamentally changed world.
This search for identity is at present increasingly reflected in various television programms, newspaper commentaries and discussions. Against this background “Germany is searching” poses the question whether new developments, themes and methods of works are becoming apparent in the production of contemporary art in Germany, and how these are perceived by a generation of young curators.
The work of 40 artists will be shown, which as well as using a variety of media like painting, installation, film, photography and objects, develop extremely different ideas in form and concept.
The exhibition was conceived by Jens Hoffmann (Director of Exhibitions ICA,London) and Kathrin Rhomberg (Kölnischer Kunstverein).
Germany is searching has been made possible by the generous support of Aloys F. Dornbracht GmbH & Co .KG Iserlohn.
Dornbracht, internationally active as a producer of designer bathroom fittings, accessories and interiors, has since 1996 regularly documented its image as a concern with cultural competence. Its commitment to culture falls into three categories: the Limited Statements Edition assembles many-sided interpretations of bathing rituals and bath culture and offers an international forum to the participating artists. The works are documented in variable medial forms, and presented internationally in exhibitions and galleries. Co-operation with the Kölnischen Kunstverein started in 2000, within the framework of the Dombracht Installation Projects, an annual exhibition series, which presents artists active in the field of installation . With Dombracht Sponsorship the medium-sized company also supports international exhibitions and projects, and with its financial and personal commitment is recognised as one of the group of international art sponsors. In 1999 and 2001 Dombracht sponsored the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennial.
