MUNICH.- Hans von Marées’ work tends to have a polarising effect: Some consider him simply a failed artist, while others maintain that he laid the groundwork for modern art in Germany. What lies behind these persistent contradictory perceptions of his paintings, now on view in their own gallery at the Neue Pinakothek? How does Von Marées’ painting relate to sculpture at the end of the 19th century? And what significance does Hans von Marées’ work have for a contemporary artist like Olaf Metzel?

Olaf Metzel Meets Hans von Marées developed out of the living artist’s idea to contend with Hans von Marées’ work from a contemporary perspective. The approach is not conducted in words, but rather in the direct confrontation between paintings by Von Marées and selected sculptures by Metzel. After being postponed at short notice due to the temporary closure of the Neue Pinakothek, the exhibition project is being resumed for November 2015.

The juxtaposition with Hans von Marées’ work makes evident Metzel’s rigorous engagement with classical genres of portraiture and the human figure in his sculpture. The exhibition is not limited to a small selection of older and newly developed works, but grants them a dynamic placement within a presentation of paintings by Hans von Marées at the artist’s behest. The juxtaposition is further enhanced by a group of Von Marées’ drawings that Olaf Metzel has selected from the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung.

Olaf Metzel, whose large-scale sculptures can be seen at the Neues Museum in Nuremberg at the same time, is well known for his work’s connection to contemporary events. With Olaf Metzel Meets Hans von Marées, the artist lends cultural-historical relevance to the oeuvre of this 19th century artist, who is esteemed and criticised in equal measure. This relevance and its aesthetic, artistic, and social components will be the subject of an accompanying series of lectures and discussions.

The opening of the exhibition on 28 November will feature talks by Olaf Metzel; Gerd Blum, professor of art history at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Münster; and Frank Schmidt, director of the Kunsthalle Emden. A second round of talks is planned for the beginning of 2016. The exhibition will also feature a series of guided tours.