150 Years of mpk: A Bold Rediscovery of Art, History, and Communal Engagement
Art exhibit marks 150 years of Mpk-Pfalzgalerie: questioning traditions and offering new perspectives - Celebrating 150 years of MPK: ThePalatine Gallery exhibits art provoking thoughtful inquiry
Get ready to dive into a mind-bending exploration of art and history as the Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern (mpk) turns 150! This Palatinate city mainstay is back with a dynamic jubilee program, a fresh take on its collection, and a renewed commitment to community engagement.
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience as Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) kicks off the festivities on May 11. Director Steffen Egle shared that the exhibition has been ingeniously restructured to make art more accessible and interactive. To achieve this, they've made a daring departure from the traditional chronological hanging by style periods.
Three enthralling tours under the themes "What is Art?" and "The Human in Art" and "Art with All Senses" offer fresh insights into the nearly 300 works from the museum's treasure trove of art. Yep, you read that right - hidden gems and visitor-interactive experiences are in the spotlight!
Kicking off the opening weekend on May 10/11, a pre-opening party and a family-friendly day will also be in store!Long-lost works and participatory offerings are just a couple of delights in the new staging.
A special exhibition, "Time Leap - Bought. Exchanged. Stolen?" will illuminate the museum’s past during the Nazi period while putting provenance research at the epicenter. In his own words, Egle said, "It was crucial for us to make a tangible contribution to addressing our house's history in the Nazi era during the anniversary year."
Post-renovations, the 1950s architecture of the building will once again take center stage, and the intriguing wall painting by Edvard Frank (1909-1972) will make a triumphant comeback since the 1980s. The collection will grow through donations from the Lenhardt Foundation and the Utermann Gallery, with a planned benefactor's wall.
The museum is also introducing a new online platform to make works digitally accessible for future generations. Long-term projects like an outdoor depot in the old state central bank and the reactivation of the Aula demonstrate the museum's forward-thinking philosophy under the stewardship of the District Association Pfalz. Steel yourselves for statues by Franz Bernhard (1934-2013) and Maximilian Hutlett (1933-2018) as part of the jubilee.
Incredibly, admission to all events will be free!
This jubilee marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Pfälzischer Gewerbemuseumsverein in December 1874. The association started planning the museum in 1875.
In essence, this year's mpk jubilee offers:
- Participatory, family-friendly experiences
- Pioneering guided tours with novel approaches to art and museum history
- Emphasis on provenance research and transparent exploration of the collection
- A memorable reopening post-renovations
This holistic approach to the jubilee invites old and new friends of the museum to experience and engage with art in an invigorating new way.
- The Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, celebrating its 150th anniversary, is committed to engaging the community with a dynamic jubilee program, including participatory, family-friendly experiences.
- The museum's collection will be showcased through engaging guided tours under themes like "What is Art?" and "The Human in Art," offering fresh insights into nearly 300 works.
- A special exhibition, "Time Leap - Bought. Exchanged. Stolen?" will delve into the museum’s past during the Nazi period, emphasizing provenance research as a crucial aspect of the jubilee.
- Post-renovations, the museum's reopening will feature the return of intriguing wall paintings and its collection will grow through donations from the Lenhardt Foundation and the Utermann Gallery.
