MUNICH, GERMANY.- Haus der Kunst presents Occupying Space. Generali Foundation Collection, on view through May 16, 2005. With the title “Occupying Space“ the Haus der Kunst presents the Generali Foundation Collection from Vienna. The Munich exhibition is not intended to be a “blockbuster“ show of this renowned collection, but rather to make connections between the different works. The concept of this private collection is reflected through the exhibition’s dialogue-like presentation. Conceptual and performance art from the 1960/70’s, artists that critically analyze the media and social parameters, are linked to works of a younger generation. Pivotal works of Austrian pioneers build the core of the collection. These often radical positions in Austrian art are juxtaposed with those of international artists.

“It is an endeavor to thematisize, to represent a particular position in art in general as well as artists with extensive group of works“, so Sabine Breitwieser, director of the Generali Foundation, describes the intention of the collection and of the institution itself. The collection’s focus is on art movements and works that are often described as “stand-offish“ or as “difficult“. This equally demanding and contextually uncompromising collection is particularly astonishing because it is funded by an insurance company.

The Generali Foundation was founded in 1988 by the Generali Vienna Group with the goal to promote contemporary art. With Austrian sculpture as its point of departure, the emphasis later shifted to the thematization of art as a social space. Photography, film, video and installation works, in general media that allow the production of art as a process have, therefore, defined this unique collection for many years. Because of the autonomous structure of the Generali Foundation, artistic projects can be realized largely independently of commercial criteria. The collection now includes close to 1500 works of contemporary art by about 160 artists.

In addition to its collection activities, the Generali Foundation pursues a distinct exhibition program in its premises in Vienna. Roger M. Buergel, artistic director of the Documenta 12, was successful here as guest- curator. Many of the thematic and solo exhibitions, as well as the publications of Generali Foundation, are considered to be instrumental in the reception of art. It is a question of an unique commitment of a company in the field of contemporary art. On a terrain generally considered to be high-risk, the Generali Foundation has advanced in its 15 years to become an internationally renowned and highly regarded art institution. Beyond the scope of a pure representative exercise, great importance is, in addition, attached to the research of selected artistic positions and the mediation of often complex subject matter. Within this context an extensive archive, library and media library have been established, which are accessible in the Reference Room of the Generali Foundation in Vienna.

Munich is the first venue in an international exhibition tour that will take the Generali Foundation Collection from Germany to the Netherlands and finally to Eastern Europe. For this first stop in Haus der Kunst two special projects were produced with artists. With the title “Occupying Space / Wasting Time“ Alice Creischer and Andreas Siekmann invite the visitors on a “walk“ through the exhibition. The Golden Bar in the Haus der Kunst will be decorated with an installation by Franz West with seating and tables that he produced, together with Marcus Geiger and Peter Kogler (fabric) as well as Heimo Zobernig (tables), for the Generali Foundation in Vienna. An extensive catalogue, “Occupying Space. Generali Foundation Collection“, which includes numerous texts by the artists, has been published.

With this presentation of the Generali Foundation Collection, the Haus der Kunst continues its “informal” series devoted to presenting distinctive private collections, a series that began in 2003 with the exhibition “Partners“ from the Ydessa Hendeles Art Foundation, Toronto, and which will be followed by the exhibition of the Herzog Collection from Basel on April 6, 2005, showing 19th century photography.