29.01. – 27.04.2025
The year 2025 begins on Königsplatz with a reminiscence of a joint presentation by the Munich Secession and the Deutscher Künstlerbund, which took place in 1904 in the rooms of today's Antikensammlungen, which were used as an exhibition building at the time. With COMBO, the Munich Secession returns for a time to the prestigious building that was the original home of the organisation from 1898 to 1916 and the venue for pioneering exhibitions.
At the invitation of the Secession, the 1904 presentation introduced the newly founded Deutscher Künstlerbund (German Artists' Association). It was the first exhibition of this progressive association, which opposed the paternalism of the state-dominated art world and also saw itself as the supra-regional representative of the local Secessions in German-speaking countries. These were modelled on the Munich Secession and were founded in Vienna, Berlin and other cities from 1892. Numerous protagonists from the Secessions subsequently joined the association. In the spirit of a plea for diversity and tolerance, the focus was not on belonging to a particular style, but on the authenticity of the individual artist. Accordingly, the co-founder of the Künstlerbund, Harry Graf Kessler, summarised the objectives of the new association: artistic freedom, talent promotion, economic efficiency and international competitiveness.
In the COMBO exhibition, the Munich Secession is attempting a partial reconstruction of the 1904 exhibition. Thanks to the association's art collection, but especially thanks to loans from the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, the Munich City Museum and private collectors, some attractive and significant paintings, sculptures and prints from the historical presentation can be shown. These include works by Sophie Burger-Hartmann, Hermann Hahn, Thomas Theodor Heine, Adolf Hengeler, Albert von Keller, Philipp Klein, Hermann Pleuer, Max Slevogt, Franz von Stuck and Oskar Zwintscher.
On the other hand, the two associations, which are still active today, present current productions by members at the site of the founding exhibition in order to publicise their current positions. The works of the current artists have been selected by a joint jury of the Secession and the Künstlerbund. Represented are: bankleer, Ergül Cengiz, Daniela Comani, Afra Dopfer, Elke Dreier, Doris Hahlweg, Shila Khatami, King Kong Kunstkabinett, Carolina Kreusch, Herbert Nauderer, Dieter Rehm, Anne Römpp, Karin Sander, Timm Ulrichs, Patricia Wich, Martin Wöhrl and as a guest: Karen Pontoppidan.
This second part of the exhibition therefore presents a snapshot of the current work of the two associations. It reflects the diversity of styles and expression that have come together under the umbrellas of the Secession and the Künstlerbund. It is a momentum in the best sense of the word. It is both a moment and an opportunity. After all, this moment creates opportunities to reflect on the future, the perspectives and the prospects of the artists' associations.
The exhibition is based on a co-operation between the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, the Münchner Secession and the Deutscher Künstlerbund. It is accompanied by a comprehensive → catalogue published by the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a symposium at the Academy of Fine Arts on 27 February 2025 from 18:00. It is entitled "Künstlerinnen und Künstler: Allein oder in der Gruppe. Rückblick und Aussichten" and, like the exhibition, will attempt to build a bridge to the future by linking the past and present.
The exhibition, catalogue and symposium are sponsored by the Stiftung Kunstfonds / Neustart Kultur, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, the Munich Department of Culture, the District of Upper Bavaria, the Stiftung Kulturelle Erneuerung and the Edith-Haberland-Wagner Stiftung.
The images provided here may be used in the context of editorial reporting on the Staatliche Antikensammlungen and the Glyptothek with reference to the exhibition "COMBO. Münchener Secession und Deutscher Künstlerbund 1904 und heute" may be used free of charge, provided the source is cited as ©Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek. Use for commercial purposes is not permitted.
