Remix

With the title “Remix“, the Kunsthalle Bremen presents a radical new look at its collection since summer 2020.

Using bold colours on the walls, an elaborate staging and an entirely new arrangement of the works on display, the exhibition allows surprising new aesthetic experiences. Descriptions of all works on display provide in-depth information, some of which are findings from the very latest research. Several works have not been seen in public in decades. The installation also presents a number of recent acquisitions, donations, and permanent loans. Works of art created after 1945 have also be given a greater presence.

The museum has carried out a creative ‘remix’ of its existing holdings, omitting wellknown works, adding new elements and setting up new combinations to create a profoundly unique aesthetic experience. Bold wall colours, densely hung galleries, unusually presented paintings and sculptures, extensive, room-filling installations and spectacular new works turn a visit to the museum into a treat for the mind and the senses.

The new presentation of the collection explores the enduring significance of historical and contemporary art and its relevance to current issues, demonstrating the continuity of certain motifs through centuries. For the most part, the works have been arranged chronologically and are complemented by galleries that focus on exploring specific themes. These address issues that have long affected humanity, including faith and war, global trade and colonialism, nature and globalization and reflect the unbroken relevance of artworks from across seven centuries. One central point of reference continues to be the history of the Kunstverein (the membership association founded in 1823 and still the responsible body for the Kunsthalle) in the context of the history of the Hanseatic city of Bremen. The new display thus combines a regional perspective and the storied history of the collection with world events.

The new layout of the permanent collection provides an opportunity to explore the prevailing canon of art history: Which works have maintained their place in galleries for decades and which have been relegated to storage? This allows visitors to make surprising discoveries of works in the permanent collection that have been taken out of the depot. Unusual juxtapositions allow familiar works to appear in a new light. Primarily organized along chronological lines, the narrative is frequently enriched by thematic accents in which historical works meet contemporary art. Familiar and unfamiliar artists, along with regional and major international works enter into an exciting artistic discourse.

Post-war art and contemporary works are given a higher profile in permanent and changing presentations. Large-scale installations by Pipilotti Rist, James Turrell, Ben Vautier or John Cage allow art to be experienced with all the senses.

Visitors can gain insight into the extensive sculpture holdings in the Sculpture Gallery, which presents a panorama of over 400 years of art history. The sculptures have been arranged according to size and not era, artistic approach or materials. From delicate figurines to heavy, larger-than-life works, the human body is highlighted as a major theme in art. A particular focus is the period from around 1900 to the present.