June 2008
Academy of Fine Arts
Two hundred years ago, King Maximilan I of Bavaria founded the
Akademie der Bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts). At the turn of the 20th century, the school enjoyed an international reputation for fostering talent and innovation. Franz Marc, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee were all students at the academy. With the outbreak of World War I, however, the importance of the educational art institution declined, and the academy was further corrupted by the National Socialists. Even though recent decades have seen several professors culled from the international art scene, the art production of the academy has not yet recovered its past fame. Numerous lectures and discussions—organized by the academy—will critically survey the status of the institution this month. On June 2, at 8 pm, the event series called “Föhn Form Ferstand” will discuss the contemporary production of art, literature and music in Munich. Author Thomas Meinecke, journalist Moritz von Uslar, Chris Dercon—director of the Haus der Kunst—and musician Mathias Modica of the Munich-based Gomma label will participate in the discussion. On June 9, at 8 pm, art historian Antje von Graevenitz will talk about American art in Munich during the 1960s. Another discussion will focus on future visions of the academy on June 19, at 8 pm. Finally, the theoretical reflections will end on June 22, when the annual exhibition of the academy’s students will open at 11 am. The exhibition will be on display until July 5. All events will take place at the academy on Aka-demiestrasse. Admission is free. For a list of all lectures and discussions, visit
www.200-jahre-kunstakademie-muenchen.de. <<<
