The Fridericianum to reopen. Forrest Bess exhibition to be extended. New education formats and special projects go online. Karl Holmqvist starts realization of the artwork Existential Staircase/Existenzielles Treppenhaus.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, sees the
Fridericianum open to the public again. Furthermore, in view of the positive
feedback and international media response, the exhibition on the life and work
of Forrest Bess has been extended until September 6, 2020.
In order to further convey the work of this visionary painter, the Fridericianum is now offering live guided tours of the exhibition via Instagram on Wednesdays (5 pm / in English) and Sundays (3 pm / in German). The series FF – Live at the Fridericianum, which normally includes performances, concerts, and lectures, is also launching an alternative, digital program. Every month, the website (www.fridericianum.org) as well as the museum’s social networks will publish specially produced short films by international artists such as Juliette Blightman (Great Britain), Keren Cytter (Israel), Dan Bodan (Canada) and Yu Ji (Hong Kong), who have responded in a variety of creative ways to the current situation caused by the pandemic. Taking a similar approach is a special project by Swedish artist Karl Holmqvist. Following the museum’s reopening, Holmqvist will proceed with the realization of a site-specific work Existential Staircase/Existenzielles Treppenhaus in the stairwell of the building, providing legitimate space for questions around meaning.
Commenting on these developments, Director Moritz Wesseler said: “We are happy the Fridericianum can finally be opened to visitors again. Furthermore, we have managed to extend the much-acclaimed Forrest Bess exhibition and initiate a multifaceted, digital education program. Art and culture are important components of social life. We hope that through our activities we will be able to contribute to the development of alternative perspectives and new freedom of thought against the backdrop of the current discussion about the pandemic—in Kassel and far beyond.”
In order to protect the Fridericianum’s audience from the coronavirus (COVID-19), certain safety rules apply during visits. These include limiting the number of visitors, respecting social distancing rules, and adhering to hygiene regulations. Separate information about the reopening of the café will be provided at a future date. Further information on these measures can be found on the website (www.fridericianum.org) and by calling the following information hotline: + 49 (0)561- 70727-20.
Digital Tours: Wednesdays (5 pm / in English) and Sundays (3 pm / in German) via Instagram Live: @fridericianum
FF – Digital: Currently: Juliette Blightman (Great Britain); May: Keren Cytter (Israel); June: Dan Bodan (Canada); July: Yu Ji (China).
Karl Holmqvist Existential Staircase/Existenzielles Treppenhaus: Once the realization process is complete, the project will be presented at a press event, to which you will receive a separate invitation.
