Minimalism and Applied II

Minimalism and Applied II
Contemporary art in dialogue with 20th century architecture and design
October 29, 2010 – March 27, 2011

Opening:
Thursday, October 28, 2010, 7 p.m.

Daimler Contemporary
Haus Huth
Alte Potsdamer Straße 5
10785 Berlin, Germany
www.collection.daimler.com

The Daimler Contemporary is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition ‘Minimalism and Applied II. Contemporary art in dialogue with 20th century architecture and design’ at Daimler Contemporary. Over the last ten years, the Daimler Art Collection has developed a focal point in the field of constructive, conceptual and minimalistic tendencies from the 1920s to the present day. A particular interest was taken here in artists who have worked on the borders between free and applied disciplines. ‘Minimalism and Applied I’, 2007, introduced fine artists who work within the transition to architecture, product and graphic design. In contrast with this, the second part of the series focuses on a dialogue between outstanding early exponents of architecture and furniture design with international contemporary art. The artists take up formal elements of design and architecture classics with site-specific installations, sculptures, pictorial objects and readymades, but above all enter into a discussion with these linked radical approaches and democratic ideals.

This exhibition centers on new acquisitions by international contemporary artists whose work examines the transitional spaces between art, design and architecture. Gail Hastings built her three-dimensional ‘thought space’ for a library building that was designed by the Australian architect Griffin in 1911 but was never built. Albert Weis’ ‘Cabinet’ und Martin Boyce’ sculptures both reference the shared construction aesthetic of Jean Prouvé and Eileen Gray’s architecture designs. The sculptures by Rupert Norfolk and George Henry Longly both combine industrial design with minimalist art. Back in the 1960s, Charlotte Posenenske pioneered the same kind of radical democratic approaches to art and design exemplified by Ferdinand Kramer and Charlotte Perriand: an authentic artistic language expressed in minimalist, participatory art objects. Philippe Parreno combines filmic, pictorial and applied aesthetics to create politically charged spatial situations.

The ‘Minimalism and Applied II’ exhibition is intended as a series of arrangements of art, architecture and design objects ‘in dialogue’. For more details on these dialogue situations please see the more comprehensive description on our website: www.sammlung.daimler.com

Artists:
Martin Boyce (GB), Sarah Browne (IRL), Jacob Dahlgren (S), Eileen Gray (IRL), Gail Hastings (AUS), Ferdinand Kramer (D), Hans van der Laan (NL), Sylvan Lionni (GB), George Henry Longly (GB), Rupert Norfolk (GB), Philippe Parreno (DZ), Charlotte Perriand (F), Charlotte Posenenske (D), Jean Prouvé (F), Gerrit Rietveld (NL), Monika Sosnowska (PL), Albert Weis (D).

Our exhibition ‘Minimalism and Applied II’ is accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue, which is available at book shop Bücherbogen am Savignyplatz, the exhibition space Daimler Contemporary or can be ordered online.

Furthermore a substantial supporting programme, consisting of artists’ talks, thematic discussions, lectures and guided tours, will go along with the exhibition. Free guided tours through the exhibition (available in German and in English on request) will take place on the following Saturdays at 4 p.m. Our guided tour ‘Sculptures at Potsdamer Platz’ is available on the same dates at 5 p.m. Please check our website for updates and announcements.

If you would like to receive regular information about exhibitions and activities of the Daimler Art Collection please send us an E-Mail to: kunst.sammlung@daimler.com or join our Fanpage on Facebook.

Various other exhibition catalogues are available at Daimler Contemporary, at bookshop Bücherbogen am Savignyplatz in Berlin or can be ordered online at: collection.daimler.com/publikationen/publikationen_e.php

Contact:
Daimler Contemporary
Haus Huth
Alte Potsdamer Straße 5
10785 Berlin
Germany

Open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission free

Phone: +49 (0)30 259 41 42 0
Fax: +49 (0)30 259 41 42 9
E-Mail: kunst.sammlung@daimler.com
www.collection.daimler.com