barthouse culture concepts and AUTOSTADT present 'Erlkönig/Prototypes' by Peter Neusser at Berlinischen Galerie and as published by DuMont

Cars, buildings and artwork whir and flicker as if they were from another world, intricate, morphed, extravagant images, that present the AUTOSTADT theme park as a communicative platform and significant in the concept introduction of an idea factory for the post-postmodern.

This creative playground has thrived at the Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg for 10 years. It is a place where car brands have their own pavilions, a ‘Zeithaus’ relates the history of the car and artists constantly push boundaries of what was previously conceived as possible through installation work. The ‘scent tunnel’, which Olafur Eliasson built using 2,000 fragrant potted plants, is particularly unforgettable.

In 2000, the Autostadt (car city) was created as a prototype of nothing more than a vision – and today it is a place where the sustainability of design, aesthetic forms of entertainment and the future of business culture are all reflected.

To celebrate its anniversary, Autostadt has presented itself with the gift of a publication, which enables all the thinkers and makers who accompanied the first ten years to have their say, in conversation with culture journalist Dr. Eva Karcher. The chapters are divided into: Biotope, Architecture, Art, Design, Programme and Gastronomy and feature the clever, inspiring and private thoughts of personalities such as artist Anselm Reyle, architect Gunter Henn and philosopher Peter Sloterdijk.

Elias Hassos photographed the protagonists – a selection of his series is also simultaneously on show, alongside Munich-based Peter Neusser’s futurist visions, at the Berlinischen Galerie

The exhibition was curated by Nadine Barth (barthouse culture concepts), Büro Boros took care of the design of the book. As French interior designer Andrée Putman puts it in the book ‘dreams take us very far’. Lets see where Autostadt will take us.

‘Erlkönig/Prototypes’
Berlinische Galerie
Alte Jakobstr. 124-128, 10969 Berlin
25.2 - 28.2.2010
Private view: 24.2. at 19:00
RSVP to: erlkoenig@berlinischegalerie.de

‘Erlkönig/Prototypes’
Autostadt in Wolfsburg (ed.)
384 pages, 39,95 Euro
ISBN 978-3-8321-9251-8
DuMont publishing house