Today (Thursday), the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Bernd Neumann, opened the exhibition "Visit(e)" at the Cultural Centre of the ING Bank. Under the auspices of Germany's EU presidency, the exhibition shows works by 39 German artists. The 236 works on show, which span four decades, are part of the contemporary art collection of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In his opening speech, Bernd Neumann stressed the fact that, "We need art to help us understand one another, across political borders: art provides us with an image of the other, opens up worlds that are new to us and expands our understanding."
With a view to the Federal Art Collection, Bernd Neumann explained, "This collection, which was launched in 1970, allows the German government to document the important milestones in contemporary art. By purchasing the works the government not only supports individual artists but fosters the development of contemporary art as a whole in Germany."
The exhibition "Visit(e)" includes paintings by Jonathan Meese and Daniel Richter, drawings by Joseph Beuys and Johannes Kahrs and sculptures by Rebecca Horn and Nam June Paik. Also on display are the photographic works of Thomas Demand and Candida Höfer as well as films and videos produced by Tacita Dean and Omer Fast.
"Visit(e)" will be open from 22 March to 1 July 2007 in Brussels. The exhibition is a cooperative venture with the Brussels Palais des Beaux Arts and the curators Eugen Blume and Anette Hüsch.
For more information, check out www.bundeskunstsammlung.de.
You will find information on the cultural programme accompanying the German EU presidency at the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media: www.kulturstaatsminister.de.
