HANOVER.- The Sprengel Museum presents works in the museum's collection by Hans Arp under the title “Form and Line“ in the gallery devoted to works on paper. Arp (1886-1966) was a painter, sculptor and poet, co-founder of the Dadaist movement as well as an active surrealist; his activities in all of these fields left a lasting impression on early 20th century art.

The Sprengel Museum collection contains more than 50 works on paper by Hans Arp, including drawings, prints, books, magazines and portfolios. Through this considerable collection, visitors to the museum are provided with a glimpse of the expansive spectrum of this artist's oeuvre. Arp's 2-dimensional works will be complemented by a presentation of sculptures, bas reliefs as well as poems, all of which pay tribute to how the artist reacted poetically to the world around him. Arp's art and poetry both influenced and were often also in response to each other. This is epitomised by his referring to collage as “Dichtung mit bildnerischen Mitteln zu bezeichnen“ (poetry realised by visual means). Arp developed an approach in which he created abstract forms that are strikingly individual, generated by accidental processes.

Hans Arp's connection to Hanover was his friendship and collaboration with Kurt Schwitters. His “Àrpáds“ series were a direct result of his visit to Hanover in 1923 and it is our pleasure to include these works in the exhibition.