Major exhibition at the MKM

September 9 to October 28, 2007
at the MKM Museum Küppersmühle for Modern Art, Duisburg

Coal and steel characterize the Ruhr region – as does the work of French artist Bernar Venet (*1941). A floor sculpture made of coal marked the beginning of his career in 1963, while steel sculptures have characterized his work from the 1980s to the present day. From September 9 to October 28, 2007, the MKM is showing the exhibition “Bernar Venet. System and Chance”, the most comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s work in Germany to date.

As part of the exhibition opening at the MKM on September 8, the artist carried out his performance “Accident” and brought down an orderly row of massive steel rods on the wall – system and coincidence. The result of this “accident” can be seen in the exhibition.

The artist and curator Susanne Kleine have selected around 35 works – photographs, drawings, installations and sculptures – including very large-format works and entire rooms. They provide a vivid insight into Bernar Venet’s work and allow visitors to follow the consistent development of his ideas. It would be too short-sighted to describe him as a sculptor; Bernar Venet must be understood as a conceptual artist. Over the years, he has continuously searched for ideal forms of expression in order to achieve a reduction to the essential in his works. The importance of content takes a back seat to that of structure.