denken (thinking) : an exhibition on ways of experiencing the world . The annual exhbition on display at Kolumba Museum, Cologne

'Pure reason is something that can hardly be enjoyed as pure reason in itself', says Bernhard Johannes Blume. Therefore, the ‘Denken’ (thinking) exhibition follows several schools of thought, which found an enjoyable artistic expression for themselves and for us.

As far as the historic context is concerned, the symbols, mementos and monuments of the medieval age stand at the outset of a culture that is distinguished and formed by an occidental and Christian shaping of world experience and worldview. And without the book as a medium, which is honoured in the exhibition, this very culture would never have become a reality.

The 'Denken' exhibition asks questions about the potential of knowing art. In the age of information and communication, it seeks to reintroduce contemplation and longevity into the field and questions whether they truly are necessary requirements for thinking patters that complete and enrich scientific, political and social school of thoughts.

The exhibition shows art as one of the few remaining stages for thinking, which are not bound by function in the common sense and resists the notion of being subjected to an increasing degree of efficiency. At least, that's what it should be!

Artists on show: Josef Albers, Birgit Antoni, Monika Bartholomé, Krimhild Becker, Victoria Bell, Joseph Beuys, Bernhard Johannes Blume, John Cage, Olaf Eggers, Bill Fontana, Lutz Fritsch, Franz Ittenbach, Hans Josephsohn, Konrad Klapheck, Jannis Kounellis, Attila Kovács, Dieter Krieg, Thomas Lehnerer, Bernhard Leitner, Rune Mields, Thomas Rentmeister, Richard Serra, Antoni Tàpies, Peter Tollens, Manos Tsangaris, Josef Wolf and architect Peter Zumthor.

GoSee recommends: 30th of March 2012, 6.30pm: John Cage: number pieces. Performed by the Ensemble Garage: Liz Hirst; Clarinet: Richard Haynes; Saxophone: Frank Riedel; percussion: Rie Watanabe; Violin: Maximilian Haft; Viola: Annegret Mayer-Lindenberg; Cello: Eva Boesch
Entry: € 8,- / conc. 5,-

denken
until August 31, 2012
kolumba.de

A publication accompanies the exhibition: “Denken - Künstlerbücher der Sammlung Missmahl" – 336 pages, over 600 colour pictures, texts, inventory, register, hard-cover with protective sleeve, 35 EUR.