March 2008
Ludlow 38
Throughout 2008 the
Kunstverein München will expand its offerings with a satellite location in New York. In cooperation with the Goethe Institut, the local art association has established a gallery on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan—a new hotspot for producers and audiences of contemporary art. The opening of “Ludlow 38” comes at a time when German art has exploded in popularity, especially in the US. The proclaimed purpose of “Ludlow 38,” however, is not to be another export of the New Leipzig School. Instead, the emphasis lies on featuring the exceptional institution of the
Kunstverein itself.
Kunstvereine (art associations) were first founded at the beginning of the 19th century by the newly aspiring bourgeoisie as a bridge between laymen and contemporary art. In that dynamic milieu, culture was no longer the exclusive privilege of nobility. Today, Kunstvereine have become non-profit-institutions dedicated exclusively to the promotion of contemporary art. Member fees, subsidies and sponsors finance their activity. All in all, this concept has fostered important curatorial innovations. The concrete and quotidian operations of the Kunstverein could be a welcome contribution to the American art scene, which in recent years has struggled to navigate commercialization and politically oriented initiatives post-9/11.
The first exhibition, “Publish and Be Damned,” presents a library of independently produced art publications and fanzines through March 23. After that, works by Andreas Neumeister, Sean Snyder and Wolfgang Tillmans exploring the interplay of global economy, war and sex will be on display from March 28 through April 20. Anyone who can’t swing a trip to the Big Apple during that time may visit the exhibition “Marxist Disco (cancelled)” at the Kunstverein’s
Munich headquarters
(Galeriestr. 4). Through March 30, there will be works by graphic designer Scott King on display. <<<
