Marc, Macke and Delaunay
The Beauty of a Fragile World (1910 – 1914)
29 March – 19 July 2009
Kurt–Schwitters-Platz, 30169 Hannover
Phone: + 49-(0)511-168 4 62 15
Fax: + 49-(0)511-168 4 29 20
presse-mmd [at] hannover-stadt.de
The exhibition focuses on a brief but intense phase in the lives of the three artists prior to World War One and traces the various stages of the impact they had on each others’ works. Franz Marc, (1880 – 1916) and August Macke (1887 – 1914), who were killed in World War I, produced their main Expressionist works during the four years they had in common. Robert Delaunay (1885 – 1941) drafted the basis of his future work at that time.
Although their personal relationships differed in intensity because they moved about much, had only limited financial means for travel, had to overcome language barri-ers and the level of mutual empathy also fluctuated, all three artists were united by one common theme, namely that of light, its fragmentation and its concomitant en-ergizing and heightening of colour. With complementary and simultaneous colour contrasts of ever increasing subtlety, they produced works that activated the viewer’s eye through their sheer vitality and vibrancy. And whilst each of the three artists held the works of the others in high esteem, they all developed their own in-dividual approach and style.
Robert Delaunay was the central source of inspiration for Franz Marc und August Macke, whereby the three artists amazingly only met twice personally. Their first encounter was in Paris where Marc and Macke visited their colleague in his studio on 2 October 1912. Delaunay showed them his Fenêtres, the window Pic-tures in which he occupied himself with the phenomenon of coloured faceting (Or-phism). Using the motif of light-refracting windowpanes, he explored the tension and relaxation of dissonant and consonant in addition to complementary and non-complementary colours. Marc und Macke were so enthusiastic about the frag-mented forms that they immediately experimented with it in all of their new works made after returning to Germany.
The second and final encounter took place in Berlin on 20 September 1913 on the occasion of the opening of the First German Fall Salon at the gallery Der Sturm. Delaunay was represented in the exhibition with 21 pieces, including 13 Formes Circulaires, works in which coloured circles are arranged in geomet-ric planar structures. These spectacular, completely abstract circular formations also inspired Marc and Macke to produce new compositional forms based on the circle. They also now risked the step towards total abstraction for the first time.
The exchange of ideas and influences between these three protagonists would not have come about, nor could it have thrived so well, without the kind help and sup-port of numerous friends, acquaintances, critics and collectors who not only medi-ated between the artists’ different approaches, but also between different countries and languages. Most worthy of mention is Sonia Delaunay, who by dint of her ori-gins knew no cultural or language barriers. She not only cultivated a multitude of contacts, but was also a recognized artist in her own right. But there were others, too, not least Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky as well as collectors such as Bernhard Koehler. A part of the exhibition will be devoted to these intermediaries and to cer-tain forerunners like Umberto Boccioni. Selected works by these artists will be flanked by pioneering early works of the three protagonists dating from the time be-tween 1905 and 1910.
The exhibition comprising about 90 paintings as well as 100 watercolours and draw-ings will be accompanied by a comprehensive and profusely illustrated catalogue published by Dumont.
The exhibition is under the high patronage of Horst Köhler, President of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Press conference: Thursday, 26 March 2009, 11.00 am
Opening: Sunday, 29 March 2009, 11.15 am
Exhibition curator:
Dr. Susanne Meyer-Büser
Head of the department of painting and sculpture at the Sprengel Museum Han-nover
Press contact:
Yvonne Mielatz
Head of press and public relations for Marc, Macke und Delaunay
Sprengel Museum Hannover
Kurt–Schwitters-Platz, 30169 Hannover
Phone: + 49-(0)511-168 4 62 15
Fax: + 49-(0)511-168 4 29 20
presse-mmd@hannover-stadt.de
Texts and pictures can be downloaded at: www.sprengel-museum.de/presse
Tickets
Valid for the special exhibitions and permanent collection
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Thursday 10 am to 8 pm
Friday to Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
Sunday 10 am to 8 pm
Closed Mondays
Additional special opening hours for school classes:
Tuesday to Friday 9 – 10 am
Opening hours on holidays 10 am to 8 pm
Good Friday 10 April 2009, Easter Sunday 12 April 2009, Easter Monday 13 April 2009, May Day 1 May 2009, Ascension Day 21 May 2009, Whitsunday 31 May und Whitmonday 1 June 2009
Transportation:
Parking is available at the museum. Public transportation: Bus 100 from Kröpcke or taxi from the main railway station.
The museum is wheelchair accessible.
Audio guides:
Available in German and English + guided tour for children
Restaurant:
bell’Arte in the Sprengel Museum Hannover:
Phone: + 49-(0)511-809 33 33, Fax: + 49-(0)511-980 56 29
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 12.00 midnight
Hotel and tourist information:
Hannover Tourismus GmbH
Prinzenstraße 6, 30159 Hannover
Phone: + 49-(0)511-123 45 111, Fax: + 49-(0)511-123 45 112
Visitors’ services / Guided tours: office hours 10 am to 6 pm
T. + 49-(0)511-168 4 10 04
F. + 49-(0)511-168 4 10 88
besucherdienst-mmd@hannover-stadt.de
Private guided tours (maximum 25 persons) by appointment only in the visitors’ ser-vice office and led by members of the museum staff!
School classes / after school care centres / Kindergartens – guided tours by ap-pointment only in the Department of Education and Communication and led by members of the museum staff!
60 minute public guided tours:
Evenings in the museum
Tuesday to Friday, 6.30 pm
Introduction to the exhibition
Weekends in the museum
Saturday, 3 pm, Sunday, 11.15 am and 2 pm
Introduction to the exhibition
Art during the day:
Programme for senior citizens, Tuesday, 10.15 am (various themes)
About the exhibition:
Tuesdays, 6.30 pm, thematic guided tours
12 Noon Guided Tours, Tuesday to Friday, 12 noon
20 minute talk/lecture on a selected artwork
Museum and School – phone consultation and registration
Monday 9.30 am to 11.30 am
Wednesday 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Gisela Deutsch
Phone: + 49-(0)511-168 4 62 17
gisela.deutsch@hannover-stadt.de
Gabriela Staade
Phone: + 49-(0)511-168 4 37 36
gabriela.staade@hannover-stadt.de
Accompanying projects:
Children’s exhibition
“The House of the Dreaming Pictures”
1 March to 16 August 2009
Museumsplatz
Expressionist Masterpieces on Paper from the Collection of the Sprengel Museum Hannover
Grafik I and II
11 March to 23 August 2009
