»THIS IS TOMORROW« is a promise made by Staatsgalerie: we collect in the present for the future. More specifically, this means that for the past few years we have deliberately focused our collection strategy on female positions, which have so far been severely underrepresented. Moreover, we continuously acquire works of contemporary art that address global social issues and thus add new perspectives to the collection. In addition to works from the Staatsgalerie, selected loans from the Scharpff-Striebich Collection, the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection and the Siegfried and Jutta Weishaupt Collection further enrich the presentation.
Our present is heterogeneous, global, and discursive. On the one hand, this is reflected in the variety of media: alongside paintings, sculptures, photographs and works on paper, large-format video works and expansive installations are on display. Secondly, it is reflected in the variety of perspectives of the artists, whose different experiences and life worlds flow into their works and broaden our view. Contemporary art is juxtaposed with works from the 20th century, which show that current themes such as ecological crises, war and violence, the examination of identity and the human body as well as the fundamental question of social coexistence have determined artistic creation for at least a century. In this way, questions from the past demonstrate their relevance and offer food for thought regarding our future.
»THIS IS TOMORROW« quotes the title of a small-format collage by British artist Richard Hamilton, which shows imaginative architecture and makes it clear that the future is a utopia worth believing in, even in times of crisis.
Picture: Nathalie Djurberg und Hans Berg, Damaged Goods, 2019, Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg; © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024, Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery