In 2017, with support from the Cultural Foundation of the German Federal States, state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Kunststiftung NRW, and Hans Fries Foundation, Museum Abteiberg acquired one of the most internationally comprehensive Fluxus collections: the art collection, archive, and library of Erik Andersch (1940–2021). The artists represented in this collection belonged to the inner circle and extended milieu of the international Fluxus network, or shared a view developed by the network beginning in the 1960s in the USA, Europe, and Japan: art is linked to action, community, play, and chance, it is conceptual, intermedial, and humorous, as well as ironic and critical toward traditions of the museum and art history. Artistic praxis involves the social, societal, and political spheres.
The museum’s team is currently engaged in processing this new addition through conservation measures, thorough documentation as well as making a detailed inventory of unique items, multiples, postcards, posters, photographs, audio and video documents, books and magazines as well as time-historical documents by more than 50 artists.
DISPLAY STORAGE (SCHAUMAGAZIN)
The museum is planning a permanent display storage format, in order to simultaneously conserve, exhibit, communicate and research the objects and materials within ANDERSCH COLLECTION/ARCHIVE. Currently, Museum Abteiberg shows a preview of the future display storage (Schaumagazin) and offers a first look into the ongoing considerations through presenting rotating sets of materials.
Image 1: Abb. 1: Erik Andersch bei einer Ausstellung von Robert Filliou (Galerie Magers, Bonn 1972), Courtesy Estate Robert Filliou & Peter Freeman, Inc., New York / Paris © Estate Robert Filliou, Photo: Dorothee Andersch
Image 2: Installationview Feldversuch #2: Brecht – Filliou, Photo: Achim Kukulies, Düsseldorf