Symposium on Post-1989 Art Transformation: East Meets West 35 Years Later

Hamburger Bahnhof—Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart announces the comprehensive symposium “The West Did Not Have to Arrive in the East! The Consequences of the Post-1989/1990 Transformation for the Art World.” This event, taking place on November 8-9, 2024, marks the 35th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s opening. The symposium will delve into the museological, economic, academic, and artistic transformations within Germany’s art landscape following reunification.

Context

As Germany commemorates 35 years of reunification, the symposium addresses the persistent disparities between the former East and West. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and subsequent developments brought sweeping changes to almost all aspects of life in the former GDR, significantly impacting the arts ecosystem. Artists gained new freedoms but faced the challenges of navigating a market-driven art world. The shift also led to a significant overhaul of staff at art academies and a change in focus within museums.

Symposium Highlights

The symposium will coincide with the opening of Andrea Pichl’s solo exhibition, Values of Economy, on view from November 8, 2024, to May 4, 2025. Pichl’s work examines the economic exchanges between East and West Germany before and after 1989, presenting a dialogue with the museum’s collection of works by Joseph Beuys.

Key Discussions

Over two days, contemporary witnesses and cultural actors will share their experiences and reflections on the post-1989/1990 transformations. The symposium will tackle questions about the integration of the two systems, the current East German art scene, and the visibility of Eastern curators and artists in institutions. It aims to foster networks and propose ideas for the future.

Program Highlights:

Friday, November 8, 2024

•2 PM: Welcome Notes by Till Fellrath, Co-Director of Hamburger Bahnhof, and Carsten Schneider, Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany.

•2:30–4 PM: Museums & Collections panel featuring Hilke Wagner, Thomas Bauer-Friedrich, and Gabriele Knapstein.

•4:30–6 PM: Art Market panel with Arne Linde, Elke Hannemann, and Friedrich Loock.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

•11:30 AM–1 PM: Art Academies panel with Angelika Richter, Dieter Daniels, and Ricarda Roggan.

•2–3:30 PM: Artistic Positions panel featuring Andrea Pichl, Via Lewandowsky, and Pham Minh Duc.

•4–5:30 PM: Funding Structures panel with Franciska Zólyom, Hildtrud Ebert, and Gitte Zschoch.

Organizers and Support:

The symposium is conceived by Till Fellrath, Gabriele Knapstein, Sven Beckstette, and art historian Sarah Alberti. It is under the patronage of Carsten Schneider and funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for the New Federal State and The Federal Agency for Civic Education. The event, moderated by Tanja Samrotzki, is open to the public and offers simultaneous translation into English.