BERLIN.- On September 6, after a 16-month break, the Rieckhallen at Hamburger Bahnhof will reopen for exhibitions following the acquisition of the unique space by the state of Berlin in November 2022 and its permanent preservation for the public. The front section of the Rieckhallen will house temporary special exhibitions over an area of around 1,300 square meters, while the rear section will showcase works of contemporary art from the Nationalgalerie's collection over an area of around 1,500 square meters. The Hamburger Bahnhof's collection presentations are thus complete, with art from 1989 to the present day alongside “Nationalgalerie: A Collection for the 21st Century” in the west wing, “Joseph Beuys” in the Kleihueshalle and the site-specific artworks from the “Endless Exhibition” in the museum's indoor and outdoor areas. The inaugural special exhibition in the new Rieckhallen is dedicated to the American artist Mark Brad- ford, whose first institutional solo exhibition in Germany presents expansive paintings and sculptures exploring themes including race, gender and economic inequality.

Mark Bradford. Keep Walking
6 September 2024 – 18 May 2025

Mark Bradford's (b. 1961) first solo museum presentation in Germany will inaugurate the reopening of the Rieckhallen. Spanning painting, sculpture, installation, and video, the exhibition delves into societal issues such as violence and urban life. Bradford's striking visual compositions, crafted through his signature large-scale paintings using found materials predominantly sourced from his native Los Angeles, serve as conduits of urban memory. His multifaceted practice offers poignant commentary on race, gender, and economic disparities. Notable pieces include recent large- scale paintings reflecting on the Great Migration era in the United States, resonating with the museum's historical legacy. Others function as sculptural installations, engaging visitors physically within the exhibition space. Sound and video pieces punctuate the experience, enriching the exhibition with Bradford's diverse artistic voice.

An edition of the Hamburger Bahnhof catalogue series, published by Silvana Editoriale Milano, will accompany the exhibition.

The exhibition is curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the directors of Hamburger Bahnhof - Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart.

Museum in Motion. A Collection for the 21st Century
from 6 September 2024

The Hamburger Bahnhof is reinaugurating the Rieckhallen with the collection presentation “Museum in Motion. A Collection for the 21st Century", which uses around 20 works from the last 25 years to pose questions about the future of a museum for contemporary art. The Nationalgalerie's collection of contemporary art focuses on large-scale sculptures and installations as well as media art; these works, along with new ones, will be presented to the public, researched, communicated and preserved for future generations in the space of the Rieckhallen, which were secured for the long term in 2022. On display will be sculptural works by Elmgreen & Dragset, Anne Imhof and Cevdet Erek as well as light and media artworks by Maurizio Nannucci and Jeremy Shaw.

The questions and perspectives through which art is viewed change from one decade to the next, from generation to generation. Just as the collection and the program of a museum change, so do expectations of the institution, with visitors of all ages and backgrounds coming to the museum every day. What should and what can a museum do in and for the 21st century? How do works of art negotiate cultural histories, art histories and societal developments? Who selects them and whose stories become visible? How does the museum open up to its neighborhood? What relevance does an art collection have for society? The exhibition, which spans around 1,500 square meters, builds on the collection exhibition “Nationalgalerie. A Collection for the 21st Century,” opened in Summer 2023, which focuses on the art and history of Berlin after the fall of the Wall. As in this presentation on display in the West Wing, works from the Federal Collection are also incorporated into the show in the Rieckhallen as part of a long-term cooperation. The Hamburger Bahnhof will thus be showing the Nationalgalerie's collection of contemporary art in three wings over a total of around 4,000 square meters.