Displaced. Art on the move
A rare chance: the exhibition at the Kunsthalle St. Annen provides fascinating insights into the hidden treasures of Lübeck's art collections.
From the silver treasure of St. Anne's Church to works by Käthe Kollwitz and Andy Warhol's ‘Holstentor’ (1980) - the depots of the Kunsthalle St. Annen and the St. Annen Museum hide precious treasures from nine centuries, some of which have never been shown to the public. Now there is a rare chance: before the artworks are moved to an external depot, visitors can experience the diverse collection up close.
Exhibition depot with unexpected discoveries
The exhibition presents an impressive range of works: The Schaudepot showcases collection and epoch-spanning significant works of painting from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries as well as modern and contemporary sculptures - including internationally renowned artists such as Willi Baumeister, Lea Grundig, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Markus Lüpertz and Sigmar Polke. But there is also room for the surprising: religious artefacts, plaster casts of antique sculptures and rare objects such as a signed cushion by Andy Warhol. Special stories about the collections also come to light: the purchase of a medieval figure turns out to be a forgery. Other objects still reflect the night of the fire in Lübeck in 1942 through traces of destruction.
A highlight of the exhibition is the silver treasure of the St Annen Museum. These sacred artefacts, which were created for the former monastery church, have been stored in the depots for centuries. Now the masterpieces are being restored as part of the exhibition and presented in their original location for the first time. Another special feature is the graphic by Ludwig Richter, donated to the Museum Behnhaus Drägerhaus by Dr Christian Dräger in 2017, which is now being presented to the public for the first time as part of the exhibition.
A look behind the scenes at the work of the museum
How do museums collect, research, organise and preserve? ‘Displaced. Art in Movement’ raises awareness of the tasks and responsibilities of modern museums - from collecting, preserving and restoring cultural heritage to scientific research. The depot, which is normally invisible to visitors, plays a key role here: the Kunsthalle St. Annen and the St. Annen-Museum are taking the opportunity to open up the relocation of the depot to the public and provide insights behind the scenes of the museum's work. Visitors can rediscover the diversity of the collections. The video work ‘Tightrope’ (2015) by contemporary artist Taus Makhacheva, which welcomes visitors directly in the entrance area of the Kunsthalle, also tells of the challenges faced by museums. A tightrope walker balances valuable paintings between two ledges and makes the delicate act of moving and preserving art tangible.