Folkwang Museum

Museum Folkwang is presenting the Looser Collection from Switzerland in dialogue with works from its own collection. Established by Hubert Looser, this compilation of modern and contemporary art is one of the most significant collections of its kind in Europe, comprising a large number of outstanding works of Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, Minimal Art and Arte Povera. The dialogue with paintings and sculptures from Museum Folkwang’s own collection results in many kinds of interaction; it highlights artistic concepts and themed exhibitions which are in similar veins: painting gestures, lines, processual character, materiality, minimalism and spirituality.

The Looser Collection is an ideal partner for this kind of dialogue-based exchange of ideas. The juxtaposition highlights similarities while unresolved positions are complemented by the inventory belonging to Museum Folkwang. The newly-created interaction between works changes visitors’ outlooks on the individual pieces, with shared aspects unexpectedly coming to light. The presentation is divided into five sections under the headings – Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, Abstract Painting Gestures, Process and Material in Sculpture, Minimalism & Monochrome and Pictures about Nothing.

Spread across five rooms the dialogue straddles a broad array of topics ranging from écriture automatique to drip and action painting, from abstract painterly gestures to monochrome and concept art. Yves Tanguy comes face to face with David Smith; Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline with Sam Francis, Frank Stella, Cy Twombly and Richard Serra; Auguste Rodin and Medardo Rosso meet Alberto Giacometti and John Chamberlain. European artists encounter their American counterparts, a private passion is contrasted with the museum tradition.