Gurlitt: Status Report «Degenerate Art» – confiscated and sold
The Kunstmuseum Bern opens the exhibition Gurlitt: Status Report «Degenerate Art» – confiscated and sold. After Cornelius Gurlitt (1932–2014) unexpectedly made the Kunstmuseum Bern his sole heir in his last will and testament in 2014, the Kunstmuseum Bern and the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn are now, for the first time, contemporaneously presenting under the title Gurlitt: Status Report a selection from this large estate to the public.
Under the title «Degenerate Art» – confiscated and sold, the focus of the exhibition in Bern is on the modern art outlawed by the National Socialists, while Bonn concentrates on Nazi Art Theft and its Consequences.
The Kunstmuseum Bern is showing some 160 works, most of which were confiscated from German collections during the «Degenerate Art» operation in 1937 and 1938. These holdings mostly consist of works on paper, featuring outstanding works of Expressionism, Constructivism and Verism. The artists represented include artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Franz Marc and Otto Dix.
At the same time the exhibition examines the political processes which led to the modern art as being defamed as «degenerate», and consequently destroyed and sold. Particular attention is paid to the fate of artists who found themselves facing kangaroo courts and persecution.
The crucial historical events are placed in a direct relationship with the historical figure of Hildebrand Gurlitt (Cornelius’ father), with all his contradictions: documents and papers from his estate tell us about the development of the museum director and advocate of modern art into one of the most important art dealers in the «Third Reich».
The exhibition also gives us, through the Studio Provenance Research, the opportunity to acquaint ourselves with the field of provenance research which has come into prominence with the «Gurlitt art trove.
In the exhibition, the SRF-film documentary «Gurlitts Schatten» is shown permanently.
Team of curators
Dr. Nina Zimmer, Director, Kunstmuseum Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee
Dr. Matthias Frehner, Director of Collections, Kunstmuseum Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee
Dr. Nikola Doll, Head of Provenance Research, Kunstmuseum Bern
Prof. (em.) Dr. Georg Kreis, Historian, Universität Basel
The Bonn exhibition will be shown at the Kunstmuseum Bern from April 13th till July 1st 2018.
The Kunstmuseum Bern would like to give all those interested the opportunity to visit the exhibition Gurlitt: Status Report. Therefore, on the opening days, on 2 and 3 November, the admission to the exhibition is free.
The Kunstmuseum Bern is now offering the option of purchasing admission tickets for the exhibition Gurlitt: Status Report online via Reservix: www.kunstmuseumbern.ch/GurlittTickets.
Video material, exhibition teasers and trailer are available for free download in the press area.
Contact
Maria-Teresa Cano
Head of Communication and Public Relations, Kunstmuseum Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee , Tel.: +41 31 359 01 89
Simultaneously at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn
Gurlitt: Status Report. Nazi Art Theft and its ConsequencesNovember 3, 2017 – March 11, 2018
To the press area
(Please log in to download the image material)
