translated and summarized by: Liz Wollner-Grandville,
200708: Museion – Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst: Peripheral vision and collective body
Museion – Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst: Peripheral vision and collective body
Intention or coincidence?
The opening of a museum and the communication
Bad news can be good news – or at least good advertisement.
If this is the way Corinne Diserens, director of the museion, the new museum of modern and contemporary art in Bozen, assessed the situation, she must have been extremely happy. After all - since the opening of the museum on May 24, there has been a heated debate about Martin Kippenberger’s art work.
It is a well-known fact that topics connected to sexuality or religion prompt most people to voice their opinion. Especially if elections are just around the corner – as is the case in the autonomous province of Southern Tyrol. The object of contention is Kippenberger’s work titled “Feet first” (Zuerst die Füsse): a green frog nailed to a wooden cross, in its left a beer mug and in its right an egg. The frog was positioned over the entrance to the museum shop, and not been taken down, (as demanded) but veiled. On either side of the frog: articles published about the “frog scandal” and the opening of the museum – the museum is communicating with texts written by others.
But the scandal makes people forget what is really going on. It’s all is about the opening of a museum, which is aiming at becoming a well-known international venue. It is operated by a foundation, under participation of an association and the province of Bozen.. The appealing cube has a length of 54, a height of 25 and a width of 23 meters. The building was planned by the Berliner-based architects KSV Krüger Schuberth Vandreike and offers numerous rooms on six floors. So far 35 million euros were invested into the project.
The museum fulfils many requirements for holding fabulous exhibits, and its technical infrastructure is cleverly thought out. However, it is not enough to only provide an exhibit title and a folder with a short explanation and a list of more than 200 artists. 300 objects should not simply be hung or positioned in a huge space, accompanied by slide shows and videos without really “guiding” the visitors. Small, nearly hidden cards on the walls, with the name of the artist and the artwork plus the year it was created, are not much good, and leave many visitors puzzled. No intention by the curator. Nothing, but “Please don’t touch.”
Museion – Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst
39100 Bozen, Dantestrasse 1, until 21. 09. 2008
www.museion.it
200708
Museion - Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst
39100 Bozen, Dantestraße 1
Tel: +39-0471 977116, Fax: +39-0471 312460
Email: info@museion.it
http://www.museion.it
Öffnungszeiten: Mo - So: 10:00 - 20:00 / Do: 10:00 - 22:00
Museion - Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst
39100 Bozen, Dantestraße 1
Tel: +39-0471 977116, Fax: +39-0471 312460
Email: info@museion.it
http://www.museion.it
Öffnungszeiten: Mo - So: 10:00 - 20:00 / Do: 10:00 - 22:00