ART EMBASSY TO THE REICHSTAG
Exhibition proposal / 2001
Art Embassy to the Rechstag did not take place. It was the attempt to set up a one day exhibition of installations by 12 artists all around the Reichstag, the German Parliament building. The artists were primed and ready, a work from each submitted to me and a schedule drawn up including music and refreshments. Then I ran into a brick wall of bureaucracy. Of course I did, how naive I was! It was around the time of my Kunstfleisch events, mad art auctions and performances based at La Fabrik in nearby Friedrichshain, where I could program what I wished, having the run of the whole building and grounds, while in Berlin at the time the sky was the limit for creative people and their ideas. In this spirit, aiming at bigger things, the Art Embassy scheme developed. It would have taken place three years before Wallywoods was founded, so I didn't even have that obscure project as a reference. I was of course, Small Fry. After initial refusal I was ready to apply again, but three days later events of 9/11 buried the enterprise (and lots more besides). After that you couldn't even walk close to the Parliament, let alone park provocative sculptures and pictures around it, a bandstand for punk and the subversive Bob Rutman, and a great big cake in the form of the Reichstag itself. The cake, an idea by the great Andreas Niederau-Kaiser, was to be carved up and offered with tea to citizens and their politicians, encouraging a bridge of dialogue... blah blah blah.
Date
Saturday, 8 September, 2001
Place
Around the Reichstag building, Tiergarten, Berlin
Concept
A one day open-air exhibition of new works of art by 12 artists
6 German artists and 6 international artists.
+ Live music program
Intentions
1. To bridge the gap between art and politics. A large Reichstag Cake will be baked and displayed from midday as an "offering". Politicians across parties and members of the public will be invited to take a slice with some tea, and to meet and talk with the artists, all of whom will be present on the day.
2. To celebrate the completion of 3 new wooden sculptures built in Berlin's Tacheles gardens between 15 July and 15 August for the project "Wendeköpfe".
Motto
"Problem-solving and bridge-building through creative thinking".
Saturday, 8 September, 2001
Place
Around the Reichstag building, Tiergarten, Berlin
Concept
A one day open-air exhibition of new works of art by 12 artists
6 German artists and 6 international artists.
+ Live music program
Intentions
1. To bridge the gap between art and politics. A large Reichstag Cake will be baked and displayed from midday as an "offering". Politicians across parties and members of the public will be invited to take a slice with some tea, and to meet and talk with the artists, all of whom will be present on the day.
2. To celebrate the completion of 3 new wooden sculptures built in Berlin's Tacheles gardens between 15 July and 15 August for the project "Wendeköpfe".
Motto
"Problem-solving and bridge-building through creative thinking".
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Program
8.00 - 10.00 12.00 16.00 18.00 19.00 - 20.00 20.00 - 22.00 |
Installation of the exhibition Unveiling of the works + signing & dating ceremonies Presentation and consumption of the Reichstag Cake The presentation of one of the works, voted for on the day by all 12 artists, to the German people Live music program with Robert Rutman + invited musicians De-installation of the exhibition |
List of participating artists & artworks
(Full documentation available on request)
1. BOB RUTMAN (Berlin / USA)
"CHAIR AND SHADOW WITH BLUE PAINTING"
oil on canvas (120cm x 150cm)
2. BRUNO ROCHAIX (Lyon)
"TRANSIT AIRPORT WITH NO EXIT"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:300cm)
3. DJANGO PANEK (Düsseldorf)
"LETTERS, NUMBERS AND IMAGES"
installation - mixed-media (height:250cm)
4. ALAN P. SCOTT (London)
"IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT"
acrylic on wood (200cm x 100cm)
5. ANDREAS NIEDERAU-KAISER (Sarstedt)
"STOMACH PAINS"
model (height:60cm) + concept for a giant bronze sculpture
6. SIG BANG SCHMID (Hockenheim)
"EINSTEIN TOWER POTSDAM"
acrylic + oil-crayon on paper (160cm x 100cm)
7. TIMUR ÇELIK (Istanbul)
"THE WAITING ROOM"
oil on canvas (200cm x 150cm)
8. JENNY BROCKMAN (Berlin)
(OBJECT)
metal + wood (height:200cm)
9. CHRISTIAN CASPERSEN (Berlin)
"BEAUTIFUL VIEWS"
sculpture - wood (height:200cm)
10. HANNES HEINER (Berlin)
"RETORTEN BABY"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:220cm)
11. ANDREJ LIOUS (St. Petersburg) †
"SUNDIAL"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:250cm)
12. PAUL WOODS (London)
"THE CHILD´S ROOM"
acrylic on canvas (240cm x 120cm)
(Full documentation available on request)
1. BOB RUTMAN (Berlin / USA)
"CHAIR AND SHADOW WITH BLUE PAINTING"
oil on canvas (120cm x 150cm)
2. BRUNO ROCHAIX (Lyon)
"TRANSIT AIRPORT WITH NO EXIT"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:300cm)
3. DJANGO PANEK (Düsseldorf)
"LETTERS, NUMBERS AND IMAGES"
installation - mixed-media (height:250cm)
4. ALAN P. SCOTT (London)
"IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT"
acrylic on wood (200cm x 100cm)
5. ANDREAS NIEDERAU-KAISER (Sarstedt)
"STOMACH PAINS"
model (height:60cm) + concept for a giant bronze sculpture
6. SIG BANG SCHMID (Hockenheim)
"EINSTEIN TOWER POTSDAM"
acrylic + oil-crayon on paper (160cm x 100cm)
7. TIMUR ÇELIK (Istanbul)
"THE WAITING ROOM"
oil on canvas (200cm x 150cm)
8. JENNY BROCKMAN (Berlin)
(OBJECT)
metal + wood (height:200cm)
9. CHRISTIAN CASPERSEN (Berlin)
"BEAUTIFUL VIEWS"
sculpture - wood (height:200cm)
10. HANNES HEINER (Berlin)
"RETORTEN BABY"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:220cm)
11. ANDREJ LIOUS (St. Petersburg) †
"SUNDIAL"
sculpture - mixed-media (height:250cm)
12. PAUL WOODS (London)
"THE CHILD´S ROOM"
acrylic on canvas (240cm x 120cm)
to the President of the German Parliament
Reichstag, Berlin
23.08.01
Sehr geehrte Herr Dr. Thierse,
im Namen von 12 Künstlern möchte ich Sie zu dem Projekt "Kunstbotschaft an den Reichstag" am 8. September 2001 einladen und Sie bitten, die Schirmherrschaft zu übernehmen.
Das in der Anlage befindliche Konzept haben wir Herrn Dr. Kärnbach vom Kunstbeirat des Reichstages und dem Bezirksamt Berlin-Tiergarten zugeschickt.
Unter den teilnehmenden Künstlern ist der gebürtige Berliner jüdischer Abstammung Robert Rutman, der nach der Flucht vor dem Naziregime und langjähriger künstlerischer Tätigkeit in den Vereinigten Staaten 1990 nach Berlin zurückkehrte, um unserer Stadt eine wunderbare Kunstgalerie in der Mulackstraße 26 zu bescheren.
Das Bezirksamt ehrte Herrn Rutman jüngst zu seinem 70. Geburtstag. Herr Rutman sagte eine Beteiligung zu, um seine Verbundenheit zu Berlin und seine Hoffnung in die deutsche Politik zu signalisieren.Herr Rutman wird seine Galerie Ende September schließen und in die USA zurückkehren; daher ist uns Eile geboten, das Event genehmigt zu bekommen, um diesen wichtigen Teilnehmer als Brückenbauer zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, Kunst und Politik nicht zu verlieren.
Dieser für alle beteiligten Künstler sehr gelegene Termin gilt als Stichtag für 6 der 12 Künstler zur Fertigstellung ihrer eigens zu diesem Projekt gefertigten Werke, die sie vor Ort signieren werden.
Wir würden uns freuen, Sie als Schirmherren dieser Kunstaktion einladen zu dürfen.
In der Hoffnung, Sie mitgerissen zu haben verbleibe ich mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Paul Woods
Event organiser
(unanswered)
Reichstag, Berlin
23.08.01
Sehr geehrte Herr Dr. Thierse,
im Namen von 12 Künstlern möchte ich Sie zu dem Projekt "Kunstbotschaft an den Reichstag" am 8. September 2001 einladen und Sie bitten, die Schirmherrschaft zu übernehmen.
Das in der Anlage befindliche Konzept haben wir Herrn Dr. Kärnbach vom Kunstbeirat des Reichstages und dem Bezirksamt Berlin-Tiergarten zugeschickt.
Unter den teilnehmenden Künstlern ist der gebürtige Berliner jüdischer Abstammung Robert Rutman, der nach der Flucht vor dem Naziregime und langjähriger künstlerischer Tätigkeit in den Vereinigten Staaten 1990 nach Berlin zurückkehrte, um unserer Stadt eine wunderbare Kunstgalerie in der Mulackstraße 26 zu bescheren.
Das Bezirksamt ehrte Herrn Rutman jüngst zu seinem 70. Geburtstag. Herr Rutman sagte eine Beteiligung zu, um seine Verbundenheit zu Berlin und seine Hoffnung in die deutsche Politik zu signalisieren.Herr Rutman wird seine Galerie Ende September schließen und in die USA zurückkehren; daher ist uns Eile geboten, das Event genehmigt zu bekommen, um diesen wichtigen Teilnehmer als Brückenbauer zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, Kunst und Politik nicht zu verlieren.
Dieser für alle beteiligten Künstler sehr gelegene Termin gilt als Stichtag für 6 der 12 Künstler zur Fertigstellung ihrer eigens zu diesem Projekt gefertigten Werke, die sie vor Ort signieren werden.
Wir würden uns freuen, Sie als Schirmherren dieser Kunstaktion einladen zu dürfen.
In der Hoffnung, Sie mitgerissen zu haben verbleibe ich mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Paul Woods
Event organiser
(unanswered)
to Dr. Andreas Kärnbach, Art Advisory Board
Reichstag, Berlin
28.08.2001
concerning:
"ART EMBASSY TO THE REICHSTAG"
Refusal of permission from the district authorities of Mitte (27.08.2001)
Dear Dr. Kärnbach,
On behalf of the twelve artists involved in the "Kunstbotschaft" project, I would be very grateful if you could shed a little light on the reasons for the refusal of permission to exhibit our works as hoped and planned for. Mr. Fischer at the (council) has himself been unable to answer our enquiries satisfactorily. I am sure you can understand the disappointment of our group as well as others who have kindly contributed in terms of time and creative energy to the project. If you yourself are unaware of the circumstances of the case, perhaps you could point us in the direction from whence we might receive a more expansive explanation (i.e. specific terms and rules regarding art/culture-event restrictions in the public areas around the Reichstag building)?
Paul Woods
Event organiser
(unanswered)
Reichstag, Berlin
28.08.2001
concerning:
"ART EMBASSY TO THE REICHSTAG"
Refusal of permission from the district authorities of Mitte (27.08.2001)
Dear Dr. Kärnbach,
On behalf of the twelve artists involved in the "Kunstbotschaft" project, I would be very grateful if you could shed a little light on the reasons for the refusal of permission to exhibit our works as hoped and planned for. Mr. Fischer at the (council) has himself been unable to answer our enquiries satisfactorily. I am sure you can understand the disappointment of our group as well as others who have kindly contributed in terms of time and creative energy to the project. If you yourself are unaware of the circumstances of the case, perhaps you could point us in the direction from whence we might receive a more expansive explanation (i.e. specific terms and rules regarding art/culture-event restrictions in the public areas around the Reichstag building)?
Paul Woods
Event organiser
(unanswered)
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#ArtEmbassyToTheReichstag #ParadoxPaul |