Remix – From Gerhard Richter to Katharina Grosse

Jörg Immendorff's Café Deutschland, Georg Baselitz's Remix paintings, and Joseph Beuys's protest signs are just a few highlights from the Viehof Collection, which ranks among the most significant private art collections in Germany. The collection primarily focuses on German art, with a particular emphasis on artists who have influenced the Rhineland, and more specifically, the dynamic art scenes of Cologne and Düsseldorf, which are recognized as significant hubs of international avant-garde art. For this major spring exhibition, 24 artists have been carefully chosen to showcase the development of German painting and sculpture since 1960.

The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the collection's diversity: it features notable figures like Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke, who embody the "cheeky" and socially aware art of the 1960s. As it transitions into the 1980s, the focus shifts to prominent figures such as Martin Kippenberger, Albert Oehlen, and Katharina Sieverding, ultimately culminating in the contemporary figurative and abstract art of the 21st century, as exemplified in the works of Neo Rauch, Daniel Richter, Isa Genzken, and Katharina Grosse.

This exhibition is notable for its contrasts, presented at the ALBERTINA MODERN. Here, the expansive works of Sigmar Polke, Jörg Immendorff, and Georg Baselitz are set against the more conceptual pieces by Joseph Beuys and Rosemarie Trockel. A few rooms away, the works of Anne Imhof and Katharina Grosse engage viewers with a distinct artistic language.

In music, a remix refers to a reimagined version of an existing piece, involving the reworking of original recordings to emphasize certain voices or sound elements. Similarly, this exhibition serves as a remix, showcasing the Viehof Collection alongside the ALBERTINA Museum's contemporary works, bringing to the forefront the strengths and relevance of both collections and fostering a richer understanding of contemporary art for our visitors. Ultimately, this collaboration will prompt a reexamination of the museum's holdings, making the approaches within its collection more comprehensible.

Remix – From Gerhard Richter to Katharina Grosse marks the Viehof Collection's first significant exhibition in Austria. However, its connection to the ALBERTINA Museum dates back to 2007, when key pieces were placed on permanent loan. This partnership is set to deepen in the coming years, with a long-term collaboration beginning in 2025. Researching the Viehof Collection allows the ALBERTINA Museum to unite significant works from both collections, offering the public an insightful journey into the artists' oeuvres. Moreover, it will highlight the complementary differences between the collections by showcasing artists unique to each, enhancing our understanding of contemporary art.

Some artists featured in the Viehof Collection, including Corinne Wasmuht with her vibrant, large-format works, Nairy Baghramian and her eccentric sculptures, as well as Karin Kneffel's masterful figurative paintings, will be presented in dedicated rooms for the first time, allowing their talent to shine through in Austria's art scene.