Does modern abstract art need to be framed? According to the sources, the unframed painting is just one of many possibilities of presenting modern art. The 20th century artists discussed the question of the frame, they redefined its forms and functions according to new aesthetic and representational ideals in various ways from Malevich to the Bauhaus or de Stijl.

Lecture in the context of the international symposium "Malevich unter the microscope", Museum Ludwig, Köln.

Luxembourg and the Greater Region have been cultural capital of Europe in 2007; the search for a common identity of the three border regions with the national state Luxembourg as its "heart" continues. The cultural network regiofactum is devoted to its interpretation, evaluation and profile as a modern cultural ethno space, presentation at the Arbeitskreis Wirtschaft Luxemburg, Schengen.

The famous museum director Wilhelm von Bode once remarked that picture framing is one of the most difficult tasks for a museum curator. More than 100 years later nothing seems to have changed: It has often been said that 20th art does not need to be framed "anymore". The opposite is true: 20th century paintings will be discussed,with a focus on their, yes: very minimal, frames. Lecture in front of selected originals of the collection of the Moderne Galerie in Saarbrücken.

Meeting point: Moderne Galerie, Bismarckstr. 11-15, 66111 Saarbrücken

In Cooperation with the fotografer Kai Loges (die arge lola) and Glashütte Gernheim text and foto contribution to the exhibition "HELDEN - Von der Sehnsucht nach dem Besonderen", Henrichshütte Hattingen 12.3.-31.10.2010 in the context of the cultural capital of Europe RUHR.2010: insights into the "savoir-faire" of the crystal glass workers of the Greater Region Saar State-Lorraine-Luxembourg-Rhineland-Palatinate-Wallonia.

Earthly Paradises - a contribution and an introduction into the practice of art history; department of Visual Arts, university of the Saar State, 2009/2010.

The official celebrations for the German national holiday took place in Saarbrucken, capital of the Saar State which neighbors France and Luxembourg. The theme of the festivities was: "Living in Europe". Duties and challenges: Designing an artistic overall concept and a non national "CI" for the presentation of the Saar State, the ministry of cultural affairs, the association espace culturel Grande Region and the Eurodistrict SaarMoselle giving the former German, French, Luxembourgish and Belgian frontier regions in the middle of Europe a positive and contemporary image for the day, derived from their common roots in history and industrial culture. Accomplished together with the cultural network regiofactum the difficult task, set standards for the future (hopefully!).

I wish to express my gratitude to all the people who became during the last three months regiofactum-"volunteers" by supporting us with their time, passion and consultation!

Foto: die arge lola Kai Loges + Andreas Langen +  regiofactum Dr. Eva Mendgen: Medals, Lorraine

“Irdische Paradiese – Earthly Paradises: Masterpieces from the Kasser Art Foundation” for the first time shows over 100 paintings and sculptures of this private collection based in the USA. Responsibilities: Communication between estate/Augsburger Museen with the result of the present exhibit; catalogue essay “Earthly Paradieses: Sea Pieces”, based on nine marine landscapes: On to New Horizons: Pierre Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet/ Jardin glorieux: Paul Signac and Henri-Edmond Cross/ In Stiller Waters: André Derain and Georges Braque/ Pardises Lost: Hermann Max Pechstein and George Grosz.

www.irdische-paradiese.de

The artist Linda Schwarz (*1963) visited the cultural heritage site near Saarbrücken, Wintringer Kapelle, for the first time in November 2008. On being faced with a chapel which had largely been robbed of its figurative collection, she immediately posed herself the question of what “saints for today” could be. Nine wood panels were produced between then and June 2009. The format of these pieces has been designed to harmonise with the shape of the prominent niches in the stonework. Traditional materials along with high-tech production methods such as digital printing, photography and modern pigments were employed. Snippets of words from advertising and newspapers along with headlines and text fragments were used to establish a relationship with the present day. The work has been put into words by Dr. Eva Mendgen who also accompanied the artistic process, in cooperation with Peter Lupp, Saarbrücken.

Linda Schwarz, Tryptichon 1: Three small saints, center piece, 2009; photographed at night, Photography: Manfred Bernhard

www.kulturort-wintringer-kapelle.de

www.lindaschwarz.de

The famous museum director Wilhelm von Bode once remarked that framing is the most difficult task for a museum curator. More than 100 years later nothing seems to have changed: It has often been said that 20th art does not need a frame anymore. This is mere theory. 20th century paintings of the Modern Gallery of the Saar State will be discussed,with a focus on their, yes: very minimal, frames - in front of originals of the collection of the Moderen Galerie in Saarbrücken.

Meeting point: Moderne Galerie, Bismarckstr. 11-15, 66111 Saarbrücken

beispiel text

Frame experiment: an antique picture frame of Munich frame maker Werner Murrer’s magnificent frame collection inspired German artist Thomas Bechinger (*1960) to conceive a “custom made” painting. The result: a perfect symbiosis of the arts and crafts, painting and (interior) design, presented at the Neue Werkstätten, München, until the end of may. Welcoming speech.

The new Mendgen-Website goes online, designed by Felix Stumpf, the software programme has been written by Felix Geiger. The idea: each click on the website reveals a new design,with every reload the visitor is faced with a new image.

The book “Im Reich der Mitte/Le berceau de la civilisation européenne/The center at the Edge” has been nominated for the 2010 Design Price of the Federal Republic of Germany

beispiel text

beispiel text