Experiments V.1 Keep Running

15 February 2024

Experiments V.1 · Keep Running · Stiftung für konkrete Kunst Roland Phleps

The Van der Koelen Foundation for Art and Science was founded in 2003 with the aim of bringing together theory and practice in contemporary art, merging education with training, helping science and business to cooperate and promoting dialog between cultures.

As part of the ›Promotion of Theory and Practice in Contemporary Art‹, the foundation has launched the Experiments project series, which is primarily dedicated to young art scholars and artists. The first exhibition project in the series Experiments I · 4+8+2, was realized in 2015. The latest project catalog now documents Experiments V · 4+8: Traces, and another highly interesting exhibition has been created, with a lively exchange taking place between the students. The idea was and is to carry out a cooperation project with young art academics and artists, all of whom are still in training, in which both ›professional groups‹ can get to know each other and exchange ideas, enter into dialog and – in the best case – learn and benefit from each other. As there has also been a YouTube channel under the name #StayHome with Dr. Dorothea since the Corona period (March 2020), the exhibitions of the young art Experiments V · 4+8: Traces as well as the established art masterpieces of the foundation’s collection and the artist talks (TakeTime with Dr. Dorothea) can also be followed remotely on social media.

The result of this fifth experiment was a success, as a beautiful exhibition was created, numerous visitors attended the opening and the special editions created specifically for the exhibition were also very well received.

After the end of the Experiments V project, it was time to look ahead. As is often the case in life, the question had to be answered: what should happen next? The answer was found – much to our delight – together with the renowned Roland Phleps Foundation for Concrete Art in Freiburg. Under the title Experiments V.1 – Keep Running, the innovative show featuring the diverse works of four up-and-coming young artists – Rebekka Kronsteiner, Anna Karpekin, Julien Hübsch and Jiaqing Li – will be on display in the spacious sculpture hall in Freiburg-Zähringen until April 1, 2024. Especially if you did not manage to visit the exhibition at the Cadoro – Center for Art and Science in Mainz, you should not miss this opportunity.

The exhibition opened last weekend to great public interest and a large number of visitors. Dr. Claudia Gillessen, Chairwoman of the Board of the Foundation for Concrete Art Roland Phleps, welcomed the guests at the vernissage before the President of the van der Koelen Foundation for Art and Science, Dr. Dorothea van der Koelen, gave the opening speech and presented the exhibition to the interested art public. Johann Sundermeier enriched the event with his musical performance entitled The Reinvention of the Flute. For all those who were unfortunately unable to make it to the vernissage, we were able to capture this important event of the cultural spring for eternity on video, which we recommend you watch this week. Enjoy!