The Schirn Kunsthalle is a Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, located in the old city between the Römer and the Frankfurt Cathedral;[3] it is part of Frankfurt's Museumsufer (Museum Riverbank). The Schirn exhibits both modern and contemporary art.[4] It is the main venue for temporary art exhibitions in Frankfurt.[4] Exhibitions included retrospectives of Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti, Bill Viola, and Yves Klein. The Kunsthalle opened in 1986 and is financially supported by the city and the state. Historically, the German term "Schirn" denotes an open-air stall for the sale of goods, and such stalls were located here until the 19th century. The area was destroyed in 1944 during the Second World War and was not redeveloped until the building of the Kunsthalle. As an exhibition venue, the Schirn enjoys national and international renown, which it has attained through independent productions, publications, and exhibition collaborations with museums such as the Centre Pompidou, the Tate Gallery, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Hermitage Museum, or the Museum of Modern Art.
History and Architecture
The Kunsthalle Schirn was designed and built beginning in 1983 by the Architekturbüro BJSS [de] (Dietrich Bangert, Bernd Jansen, Stefan Jan Scholz, and Axel Schultes).[5] The opening took place on 28 February 1986.[6] The Kunsthalle has an overall exhibition space of more than 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft).[7]
The Schirn is located in Frankfurt's historic city center. Faced with light sandstone, it consists of several interlocking structures, each of which features a geometric floor plan. The most prominent structural element is an approximately 140-meter-long and 10-meter-wide 6-story hall, the actual exhibition building, which runs from east to west.[8] Bangert designed the longhouse to resemble the Uffizi building in Florence.[9]
Additional structural elements are arranged somewhat to the west of the middle of this longhouse along an imaginary transverse axis: to the south, facing Saalgasse, a multistory cube with a rectangular floor plan (ca. 18 x 25 m), and adjoining it, parallel to the longhouse, an elongated rectangular expansion. The second most prominent structural element besides the main exhibition building follows on the north side of the main axis: the sky-domed rotunda, approximately twenty meters in diameter, which constitutes the monumental main entrance. It is the Schirn's highest structure and consists of a single open space, through which one enters the Schirn.
After passing through the rotunda, a chasm cut into the building runs along the old Bendergasse. A further semicircular structural element follows to the north, beyond Bendergasse, which with a somewhat more than twofold radius features the same center of circle as the rotunda. This structure, separated from the main exhibition building by Bendergasse, houses the Schirn Café.[10] A rectangular opening has been incorporated into the east end of this structural element in which an approximately three-story tall, oversized table with no specific purpose once stood at the street level, which was demolished within the scope of the Dom-Römer Project, the reconstruction of Frankfurt's historic city center, in August 2012.[8]
The Schirn has had a new interior since 2012 that was designed by the Kuehn Malvezzi architectural office. It bathes the foyer in alternating colors of light with the aid of modern RGB lighting technology.[11]
The name "Schirn" derives from the history of its location. The word originally denoted an "open sales booth."[8] The site on which the Schirn Kunsthalle is currently situated was Frankfurt's densely populated historic city center until it was destroyed during the Second World War, on 22 March 1944.[12] The sales booths of the city's butchers' guild stood in the narrow alleys between today's Schirn and the Main River until the mid-19th century.
Directors
Christoph Vitali [de] was the director of the Schirn from 1985 to 1993, and during that same period the chief executive of the Kulturgesellschaft Frankfurt mbH.[13] He established the Schirn as an exhibition venue. His successor was Hellmut Seemann [de].[14] The Austrian Max Hollein was the director from 2001 to 2016.[15] In 2006 Hollein also took over the directorship of the Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus.[16] With exceptional exhibitions, provocative titles, and improved financial resources he has increased the number of visitors to the Schirn threefold.[17] Since 2022, Sebastian Baden is director of the Schirn, succeeding Philipp Demandt.[18]
Exhibitions
As of 2022[update], more than 250 exhibitions have been presented at the Schirn since its opening.[19][20] These have included major survey exhibitions on, for example, Viennese Art Nouveau, Expressionism, Dada and Surrealism, on "Esprit Montmartre," women Expressionists, "German Pop," on the history of photography, and on subjects such as shopping, art and consumption, visual art of the Stalin era, the Nazarenes, and new Romanticism in contemporary art. As of 2022[update], more than 9.5 million people have visited the Schirn.[20]
Marc Chagall "World in Turmoil" with paintings from the 1930s and 1940s between 4 November 2022 to 19 February 2023 (243,582 visitors).[39][40][41][42][43]
^Bangert, Dietrich; Jansen, Bernd; Scholz, Stefan Jan; Schultes, Axel (25 June 2013). "Kunsthalle Schirn, Dom-Römerberg-Bereich". Archiv DAM (in German). Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^ abcHeeg, Laura (28 June 2018). "10 Fakten zur SCHIRN". Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (in German). Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^Berggruen, Olivier (2004). Yves Klein (in German). Ostfildern-Ruit: Hatje Cantz. ISBN978-3-7757-1446-4.
^Kandinsky, Wassily; Ebert-Schifferer, S. (1989). Wassily Kandinsky : die erste sowjetische Retrospektive (in German). Frankfurt a.M: Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. OCLC257092460.
^Matisse, Henri; Berggruen, Olivier; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Sammlung Berggruen (2002). Henri Matisse : drawing with scissors : masterpieces from the late years. Munich: Prestel. ISBN3-7913-2799-2. OCLC51780929.
^Bown-Taevernier, Sabine; Pfeiffer, Ingrid; Ensor, James; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2005). James Ensor [anlässlich der Ausstellung James Ensor, Schirn-Kunsthalle Frankfurt, 17. Dezember 2005 – 19. März 2006] (in German). Ostfildern-Ruit. ISBN978-3-7757-1702-1. OCLC181469708.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Byars, James Lee; Ottmann, Klaus; Hollein, Max; Michely, Viola Maria; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2004). James Lee Byars : Leben, Liebe und Tod = life, love, and death (in German). Ostfildern-Ruit: Hatje Cantz. ISBN3-7757-1368-9. OCLC55600341.
^Hollein, Nina; Klein, Yves; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2004). Yves Klein – into the blue. Ostfildern-Ruit, Germany. ISBN3-7757-1515-0. OCLC61183347.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Moholy-Nagy, László; Pfeiffer, Ingrid; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2009). László Moholy-Nagy retrospective (in German). Munich: Prestel. ISBN978-3-7913-5002-8. OCLC496103229.
^Seurat, Georges; Kunsthaus Zürich; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2009). Georges Seurat (in French). Ostfildern, Germany: Hatje Cantz Verlag. ISBN978-3-7757-2535-4. OCLC495780253.
^Stuffmann, Margret; Redon, Odilon; Bernauer, Markus; Schirn-Kunsthalle (2007). Odilon Redon, Wie im Traum : [diese Publikation erscheint anlässlich der Ausstellung Odilon Redon, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, 28. Januar bis 29. April 2007] (in German). Frankfurt: Schirn Kunsthalle. OCLC315758036.
^Guston, Philip; Currid, Brian; Grindell, Nick; Werthern, Wilhelm von; Pfeiffer, Ingrid; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Sammlung Falckenberg; Louisiana (2013). Philip Guston : das grosse Spätwerk = Late works (in German). [Köln]. ISBN978-3-942680-46-2. OCLC862102293.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Bukuts, Carina (16 February 2018). "Basquiat". Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^Bühler, Katharina; Heeg, Laura; Munch, Edvard; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2012). Edvard Munch, der moderne Blick eine Einführung in die Ausstellung – ab 12 Jahren ; [zur Ausstellung Edvard Munch. Der Moderne Blick, Schirn-Kunsthalle Frankfurt, 9. Februar bis 13. Mai 2012] (in German). Frankfurt, M. ISBN978-3-89946-178-7. OCLC800577310.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Géricault, Théodore; Chenique, Bruno; Fornari, Bruno; Hollein, Max; Quétel, Claude; Schrader, Kristin; Wedekind, Gregor; Stockman, Russell; Wharry, David; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Museum voor Schone Kunsten (2013). Géricault : images of life and death. Frankfurt. ISBN978-3-7774-2068-4. OCLC861608565.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Kahlo, Frida; Billeter, Erika; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1993). The world of Frida Kahlo : the blue house. Frankfurt am Main, Houston: Schirn Kunsthalle ; Museum of Fine Arts. OCLC30367307.
^Heeg, Laura; Schätz, Olga; Rasch Druckerei und Verlag GmbH & Co.KG; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Rasch Druckerei und Verlag (2020). Fantastische Frauen surreale Welten von Meret Oppenheim bis Frida Kahlo : eine Einführung in die Ausstellung (in German). Frankfurt am Main. ISBN978-3-89946-292-0. OCLC1141153102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Henri Matisse". Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (in German). 20 December 2002. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^Viola, Bill; Ross, David A.; Hyde, Lewis; Whitney Museum of American Art; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1999). Bill Viola [anläßlich der Ausstellung "Bill Viola", organisiert vom Whitney Museum of American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2. November 1997 – 11. Januar 1998 ... The Art Institute of Chicago, 16. Oktober 1999 – 9. Januar 2000]. Ostfildern. ISBN978-3-89322-972-7. OCLC76006401.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Koons, Jeff; Ulrich, Matthias; Brinkmann, Vinzenz; Pissarro, Joachim; Hollein, Max; Liebieghaus; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2012). Jeff Koons : the painter & the sculptor. Ostfildern, Germany: Hatje Cantz. ISBN978-3-7757-3371-7. OCLC794364561.
^Hollein, Max; Steinweg, Marcus; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2003). Doppelgarage : eine Ausstellung von Thomas Hirschhorn in der Schirn-Kunsthalle Frankfurt (in German). OCLC886382471.
^Meese, Jonathan; Hollein, Max; Schirn-Kunsthalle (2004). Jonathan Meese : Képi blanc, nackt : eine Installation von Jonathan Meese aus derSammlung Falckenberg in der Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, [16. Januar – 12. April 2004] (in German). Frankfurt am Main: Revolver – Archiv für aktuelle Kunst. ISBN3-937577-14-9. OCLC163145333.
^Bock, John; Schlicht, Esther; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2007). John Bock Filme = John Bock films; [anlässlich der Ausstellung "John Bock. Filme", Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, 7. Juni – 23 September 2007] (in German). Köln: W. König. ISBN978-3-86560-261-9. OCLC166214094.
^Koh, Terence; Weinhart, Martina; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2008). Terence Koh, Captain Buddha [anlässlich der Ausstellung Terence Koh, Captain Buddha, Schirn-Kunsthalle Frankfurt, 28. Mai – 31. August 2008] (in German). Köln. ISBN978-3-86560-466-8. OCLC244068893.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Mir, Aleksandra; Ulrich, Matthias; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2009). Aleksandra Mir : triumph (in German). Köln: Walther König. ISBN978-3-86560-576-4. OCLC326587158.
^Havekost, Eberhard; Häusler, Heide; Hollein, Max; Vergne, Jean-Charles; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2010). Eberhard Havekost : retina (in German). Köln: Verlag der Buchhandlung W. König. ISBN978-3-86560-740-9. OCLC610055359.
^Bouchet, Mike; Ulrich, Matthias; Hollein, Hans; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2010). Mike Bouchet, Neues Wohnen (in German). Köln: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König. ISBN978-3-86560-760-7. OCLC691853297.
^Schnabel, Julian; Hollein, Max; Corral, María de; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.; Mostra d'Oltremare S.p.A. (2004). Julian Schnabel : Malerei = paintings 1978–2003 (in German). Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz. ISBN3-7757-1386-7. OCLC54375457.
^Pfeiffer, Ingrid; Hollein, Max; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2013). Yoko Ono : half-a-wind show : a retrospective. [Frankfurt am Main]. ISBN978-3-7913-5283-1. OCLC855362221.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2016). 30 Jahre Schirn das Magazin zum Jubiläum (in German). Frankfurt am Main: Schirn Kunsthalle. OCLC956685473.
Bachmann, Luise; Rohde, Pamela; Schlingmann, Freya; D'Atri, Dawn Michelle; Reinhardt, Sophie; Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (2016). Aller guten Dinge sind dreissig : 30 Jahre Schirn (in German). Frankfurt: Schirn Kunsthalle. OCLC958003857.
Gerlach, Laura J. (2007). Der Schirnerfolg die "Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt" als Modell innovativen Kunstmarketings; Konzepte – Strategien – Wirkungen (in German). Bielefeld. ISBN978-3-89942-769-1. OCLC188190108.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)