Dr Sandra Beate Reimann: "We were very fascinated by the positive, life-affirming approach that believes in the potential of art

Dr Sandra Beate Reimann: "We were very fascinated by the positive, life-affirming approach that believes in the potential of art.“

Dr Sandra Beate Reimann: "We were very fascinated by the positive, life-affirming approach that believes in the potential of art.“

The Tinguely Museum in Basel is currently exhibiting the German artist Otto Piene. This presentation marks the first time that the artist's work has been honoured in a comprehensive special exhibition ten years after his retrospective opened in Berlin in 2014 while he was still alive. Otto Piene pursued ambitious goals with his art: He was not just an artist of floating sky art and media projections, but his works were intended to contribute to a more harmonious and sustainable world.

Otto Piene also lived and worked for a long time in Düsseldorf, where our Alethea Magazine is based. Otto Piene first became known in 1958 together with Heinz Mack as co-founder of Zero in Düsseldorf. Günther Uecker then joined the core group in 1961. His second major creative period was characterised in particular by his invention of Sky Art. A particular highlight of his Sky Art is the Olympic rainbow, which he let rise in the sky above the lake of the Olympic Park at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972.

In its exhibition "Otto Piene. Paths to Paradise", the Museum Tinguely is now tracing the artist's visions along the most important projects and series of works in his oeuvre. We spoke to curator Dr Sandra Beate Reimann and Dr Lauren Elizabeth Hanson about the significance of his work. Otto Piere's manifesto, "Yes, I dream of a better world. Should I dream of a worse one?" was the point of origin for this exhibition. The life-affirming approach of the artist, who believed in the potential of art, was the great inspiration for the team. The exhibition can be seen in Basel until 12 May 2024.

17. February 2024

Continue reading in German

Interview Directory

ART

Name: Dr Sandra Beate Reimann

Occupation: Curator at the Museum Tinguely

Education: Dr phil in art history

"Yes, I dream of a better world.

Should I dream of a worse one?“

Otto Piene

How do you assess the significance of Otto Piene for art history and why was it so important to honour the artist with this exhibition after the major retrospective in Berlin 10 years ago?

Otto Piene founded Zero in Düsseldorf in 1958 together with Heinz Mack. In opposition to the darkness of the war and in contrast to the gestural painting of the time, Zero proclaimed a new beginning in art orientated towards light, vibration, purity, energy and the cosmos. Later, from the end of the 1960s, Piene invented Sky Art and also developed into a pioneer of media art due to his interest in the combination of art and technology. Together with Aldo Tambellini, for example, he created the first ever work of art for television in 1968. Despite this, his art is less well known outside of Germany. And it is precisely today that Piene's pioneering strategies of combining art with technology and his claim to the social and environmental potential of art are once again particularly relevant.

In 1961, Otto Piene published an article in the magazine ZERO 3 entitled "Wege zum Paradies" (Paths to Paradise). What prompted you to choose this title?

Otto Piene began his manifesto with the lines:

"Yes, I dream of a better world.

Should I dream of a worse one?“

This positive, life-affirming approach, which believes in the potential of art, fascinated us greatly and we therefore chose it as the starting point for our thematically structured exhibition.

How would you place "Paths to Paradise" today in the context of the current social and political situation today?

Even today, we are observing that artists are interested in the relationship between art and technology, just as they are increasingly placing social, political and ecological issues at the centre of their artistic practice. Against this background, it is also worth taking a fresh look at Otto Piene's art.

As a curator, how long do you generally work on an exhibition and what is it like for you when an exhibition about such an important artist can be realised?

Dr Lauren Elizabeth Hanson and I worked on this exhibition for a good year. That is very short for such an extensive exhibition with archive research and a catalogue publication. The collaboration was therefore particularly important and the exhibition benefited greatly from our exchange of content.

Our editorial team will be in Basel to report on the Basler Faßnacht? How do you experience it?

For the people of Basel, these are the "drey scheenschte Dääg". From my childhood, I myself am mainly familiar with the Mainz carnival. In contrast, the Basel carnival is strongly divided into active and passive people. For example, you don't dress up as a spectator. In my opinion, folk customs and military origins are even more noticeable.

Otto Piene, Lightroom with Mönchengladbach Wall, 1963–2013 Cardboard, wood, metal, motor, light Dimensions variable Otto Piene Estate, courtesy Sprüth Magers © 2024 ProLitteris, Zurich: Otto Piene Estate Photo: courtesy Sprüth Magers © Timo Ohler

TOP STORIES

ISRAEL

Düsseldorf commemorates the destroyed Great Synagogue in difficult times. Presentation "missing link_" by Mischa Kuball

November 2023

_____________

LUXURY

US high-end furnishing giant RH The Gallery opens in Düsseldorf with star guests.

November 2023

_____________

ENGLISH CHRISTMAS

10 years of Glow Wild at Kew Wakehurst.

October 2023