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Visitor magnet: the Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn

The Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn is one of Germany’s most visited exhibition spaces.

16.02.2015
© Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Bundeskunsthalle

The Art and Exhibition Hall – the name sounds almost a bit too sober for what has been happening there in Bonn for more than twenty years. For the “Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany” is a museum of the superlative degree. Starting with the striking building, which the architect Gustav Peichl constructed in the form of a 95 metres long cube in 1992. Lined with 16 steel columns, which represent the German federal states, and topped by a roof with three highly visible light pyramids. Up to four exhibitions can take place simultaneously in the 5,600 square metre space. The venue of temporary exhibitions from the holdings of the federal and state governments, it has shown numerous important cultural treasures.

European dimension

In so far more than 220 exhibitions, the spectrum has ranged from finds from the grave chamber of Tutankhamen and important paintings of the Italian Renaissance to the space capsule “Liberty Bell 7”, which was salvaged from the seabed. So as to open a global perspective on these themes, the Art and Exhibition Hall, under the direction of Reins Wolf, makes use of a network of leading international museums. The exhibition series The Great Collections, for instance, presents museums from around the world, ranging from the British Museum to the National Palace Museum, Tapei. Visitors to the Art and Exhibition Hall, one of Germany’s most visited museums, are also international. Of the so far roughly 17 million visitors, many have come from the neighbouring countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. The European dimension is another feature of this distinguished cultural institution.

Exhibition: Behind the Art. Homage to Michelangelo at the Federal Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn until 25 May 2015

www.bundeskunsthalle.de

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