ARTNET AG Boycotters have taken issue with its financial backer, Walter Smerling.
Taylor Dafoe, January 31, 2022
Artists in Berlin are calling for a boycott of a new temporary art space at a historic airport hangar, claiming the venture reflects the interests of its private backers more than the city's art scene.
The exhibition space, called Kunsthalle Berlin, opened January 28 at the Tempelhof Airport, a facility that was built by the Nazis in 1923 and ceased operations in 2008. Aretrospective of work by French artist Bernar Venet-one of the largest ever mounted-inaugurated the space, but it came amid controversy as artists in Berlin, and beyond, refused to support the upstart art space.
Those against the Kunsthalle have taken issue with its backer, the Foundation for Art and Culture, a private art production entity in Bonn, and its founder, Walter Smerling, whom opponents say is attempting to parlay cultural influence into political and corporate gain. According to itswebsite, the foundation's projects are "financed by sponsoring from business or the private sector."
Boycotting artists have also called out the state for granting the foundation permission to use a pair of the airport's dormant hangars for the next two years.
"Rather than being a considered initiative that is in the interests of the arts and cultural community of Berlin at large (as you might expect from an institution wielding the name 'Kunsthalle Berlin'), the new 'Kunsthalle' can best be described as a cynical, neoliberal vehicle that will primarily serve to increase the stature and private wealth of all those associated with it," wrote Berlin-based artist Candice Breitz in astatementahead of the opening.
"In joining this boycott," the artist concluded, "we wish to send a clear message: This 'Kunsthalle' is not what Berlin artists need. [Nor] is it what most Berlin artists want."
French sculptor Bernar Venet stands during a performance in his exhibition "Bernar Venet, 1961 - 2021. 60 years of performance, paintings and sculptures" at the Kunsthalle Berlin in Tempelhof Airport. Photo: Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images.
Zoë Claire Miller and Heidi Sill, representatives of the Bbk Berlin association of visual artists, also took issue with Smerling's adoption of the word "Kunsthalle" for the space.
"With the self-appointment as Kunsthalle Berlin, the [Foundation for Art and Culture] from Bonn-which is not a foundation, but an association that pursues its own interests-suggests that the use of the historic Tempelhof airport hangar by this association is publicly legitimized," the Bbk spokespersons wrote in apress release. "But this is by no means the case."
"Where is the communication with civil society?" they asked.
Other artists who have publicly supported the boycott online include Adam Broomberg, Antje Majewski, and Tobias Zielony.
Representatives from the Foundation for Art and Culture did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At a press conference for the opening of the Venet show, Smerling said he did not think a boycott was an appropriate way to protest Kunsthalle Berlin and claimed that he was "open to dialogue," according to theArt Newspaper.
Smerling previously came under fire for "Diversity United," a blockbuster exhibition about "European values" that opened last year at the Tempelhof Airport and was supported by Vladimir Putin. Critics accused Smerling ofnot paying participating artists and forming an exclusively white and male advisory council.
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artnet AG published this content on 31 January 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 31 January 2022 20:21:05 UTC.
