PRESENTATION: Freigeister

The exhibition “Freigeister Fragments of an art scene in Luxembourg and Beyond” is developed to mark the 15th anniversary of the museum. Conceived as a subjective portrait of the contemporary art scene in Luxembourg, it brings together the work of 14 artists born in the 1970s and 1980s. Presenting works in a range of media, from painting, photography, installation and sculpture, as well as film and virtual reality, the artists are connected via the links they have forged between Luxembourg and other countries and through their backgrounds or personal journeys, thus reflecting Luxembourg’s openness to the world beyond its borders.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Mudam Archive

The exhibition “Freigeister-Fragments of an art scene in  Luxembourg and Beyond”  also highlights the vital role that artists play in contemporary society through the perspectives they bring, from the critical to the engaged, and from the idiosyncratic to the poetic. It underscores, moreover, their ability to question established frameworks, ideas and forms – to act, in the words of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche as ‘free spirits’. A distinctive aspect of the exhibition is the process of its creation. The exhibition was built on the model of a collaborative platform combining moments of collective thinking about the exhibition project and meetings with guest speakers – researchers, writers, heads of institutions and association leaders – about themes that resonate most strongly with Luxembourg today, including the subjects of migration, languages, living together, the commons and territory. The exhibition does not seek to illustrate these themes, but it is informed by the discussions that led to its creation. It brings together new works commissioned from the participating artists in response to the context of the exhibition – fragments of an art scene that is characterised by its vitality and plurality.

Yann Annicchiarico has held solo exhibitions at KIT – Kunst im Tunnel à Düsseldorf (2020); Galerie Nosbaum Reding, Luxembourg (2019); Centre des Arts Pluriels, Ettelbruck (2018). He has participated in residency programmes at Fonderie Darling, Montreal (2019) and at Villa Médicis, Académie de France, Rome (2015). He was awarded the Bourse Francis-André in 2020 for his first solo exhibition in a public institution at KIT – Kunst im Tunnel in Düsseldorf (2020). He lives and works in Luxembourg.  Laurianne Bixhain has held solo exhibitions at Lët’z Arles – Rencontres internationales de la Photographie d’Arles, Arles (2017); Cercle Cité and Centre National de l’Audiovisuel, Luxembourg (2016); Galerie der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig (2015); Centre d’Art Nei Liicht, Dudelange (2014). She has participated in residency programmes at the Fonderie Darling, Montreal (2017); Islington Mill, Manchester (2016); Torna, Istanbul (2014). She is currently following a residency programme at ISELP, Brussels (2021). She lives and works in Luxembourg and Brussels. Aline Bouvy has held solo exhibitions at IKOP – Musée d’Art Contemporain, Eupen (2020); the Künsterhaus Bethanien, Berlin (2019); Galerie Nosbaum Reding, Luxembourg (2018, 2014); Galerie Albert Baronian, Bruxelles (2018); CIAP, Hasselt (2018). From 2000 to 2013, Aline Bouvy worked in collaboration with John Gillis. She is a founder member of the feminist collective “The After Lucy Experiment” with Claudia Radulescu, Delphine Deguislage, Charlotte Beaudry, Céline Gillain and Aurélie Gravas (2010-2015). She lives and works in Luxembourg and Brussels. Marco Godinho has held solo exhibitions at the Parvis – Centre d’art contemporain, Tarbes (2019); Fonderie Darling, Montréal (2018); MAMAC – Musée d’art moderne et contemporain, Nice (2016); MNAC – Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporâneado Chiado, Lisbon (2015); Museo Universitario Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín (2013); Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’Art Contemporain, Luxembourg (2013). In 2019 he represented Luxembourg at the 58th Venice Biennale. He lives and works in Luxembourg and Paris. Sophie Jung has held solo exhibitions at the Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’Art Contemporain, Luxembourg (2020); Kunstmuseum Basel (2018); Blain Southern, London (2018). In 2016 and 2019 she was a laureate of the Swiss Art Awards and received the Manor Kunstpreis in 2018. Sophie Jung lives and works in London and Basel. Catherine Lorent has held solo exhibitions at the Centre d’Art Nei Liicht, Dudelange (2021); Toolbox Finnish-German Artspace, Berlin (2019); bb15 Space for Contemporary Art, Linz (2018); artothek Köln (2016). In 2013 she represented Luxembourg at the 55th Venice Biennale. Alongside her work in the visual arts, she founded several musical projects, including Gran Horno. She lives and works in Berlin. Filip Markiewicz has held solo exhibitions at C+N Canepaneri, Milan (2020); MNAC – Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest (2020); Kunsthalle, Osnabrück (2019); CCA – Derry/Londonderry (2019); Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’Art Contemporain (2018); La Panacée, Montpellier (2018); Theater Basel (2017). In 2015 he represented Luxembourg at the 56th Venice Biennale. He lives and works in Hamburg and Luxembourg.

Karolina Markiewicz & Pascal Piron have been working together since 2013 and have held solo exhibitions at the Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’Art Contemporain, Luxembourg (2021, 2016); Centre National de l’Audiovisuel, Dudelange (2019); VT Artsalon and TheCube Project Space, Taipei (2018); Centre d’Art Dominique Lang, Dudelange (2017). They have participated in the 56th Venice Biennale (official representatives of Liechtenstein) and in numerous international film festivals. They live and work in Luxembourg. Claudia Passeri has held solo exhibitions at the Galerie Nosbaum Reding (2020); Lët’z Arles – Rencontres internationales de la Photographie d’Arles (2019); SRISA Gallery, Florence (2017). She founded several collective and curatorial projects, as well as artist residency programmes: Agence Borderline (2006), with Michèle Walerich, Transitus immobilis (2018), with Catherine Lorent and Serge Ecker, and Common Wealth (2018) with Benoit Delzelle. She lives and works in Luxembourg and in Umbria. Daniel Reuter has held solo exhibitions at Lët’z Arles – Rencontres internationales de la Photographie d’Arles (2021); Galerie Nosbaum Reding, Luxembourg (2021); Harbinger, Reykjavik (2020); Neskirkja Reykjavik (2018); Ramskram, Reykjavik (2018); MiCamera, Milan (2014); 25 Books, Berlin. He lives and works in Luxembourg and in Reykjavik. Nina Tomàs has held solo exhibitions at the Fondation privée du Carrefour des Arts, Brussels (2020); Galerie Nosbaum Reding, Luxembourg (2019);  Galerie Art Est Ouest, Marseille (2017). She has participated in residency programmes at ISELP, Brussels (2021); Fondation privée du Carrefour des Arts, Brussels (2017) and at the Anderson Center, Minnesota (2016). She lives and works in Luxembourg and Brussels. Daniel Wagener has held solo exhibitions at the AICA Kiosk, Luxembourg (2018); Centre d’art Dominique Lang, Dudelange (2017). He participated in residency programmes at Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster (neimënster) (2020) and at ISCP – International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York (2018). In 2020 Daniel Wagener and Axel Claes founded the collective project ‘Les Conseillers’ to offers a programme around printing technics at Kanal – Centre Pompidou, Brussels. He lives and works in Brussels. Jeff Weber held solo exhibitions at the Carré d’art – Musée d’art contemporain, Nîmes (2021); Lxhxb, Eindhoven (2020); Galerie Erna Hecey, Luxembourg (2019); Kunsthalle Leipzig (2014-2017); Jan Van Eyck Academie, Maastricht (2012). He was awarded the Bourse Bert-Theis (2018) and the Edward Steichen Award (2015). He has participated in residency programmes at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (2020) and ISCP – International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York (2015). He lives and works in Berlin.

Participating Artists: Yann Annicchiarico, Laurianne Bixhain, Aline Bouvy, Watermael-Boitsfort, Marco Godinho, Salvaterra de Magos, Sophie Jung, Catherine Lorent, Filip Markiewicz, Karolina Markiewicz & Pascal Piron, Claudia Passeri, Daniel Reuter, Nina Tomàs, Daniel Wagener and Jeff Weber.

Photo: Claudia Passeri, Campetto, 2019, Courtesy Common Wealth, © Roberto Apa

Info: Curators Clément Minighetti, Sarah Beaumont, Marie-Noëlle Farcy, Christophe Gallois, Mudam Luxembourg-Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, 3 Park Dräi Eechelen, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, Duration: 11/11/2021-27/2/2022, Days & Hours: Mon & Thu-Sun 10:00-18:00, Wed 10:00-21:00, www.mudam.com