MUNICH.- The Pinakothek der Moderne is due to close for renovations in February 2013 and is scheduled to reopen in September 2013. The closure of the world-renowned museum building, with four museums under one roof, is being seized on as an unmissable opportunity. A makeshift exhibition pavilion, named the Schaustelle or ‘show site’, is to be set up by the four collections at the Pinakothek der Moderne for the duration of the renovations, providing them with a temporary platform to hold exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances, film screenings and video installations and much more besides. The project has been initiated by the Stiftung Pinakothek der Moderne.

With its four separate collections dedicated to modern art, the graphic arts, architecture and design, the Pinakothek der Moderne is one of the best-loved and most-visited museums on the local, national and even international cultural circuit. The fact that the building faces temporary closure for renovation work, due to last from February to September of next year, is being greeted by the four collections with the spirit of experimentation, in a scheme initiated and primarily funded by the Stiftung Pinakothek der Moderne.

For the entire duration of the closure, starting in February 2013, the temporary exhibition pavilion, the ‘Schaustelle’, will be set up in the south-east of the Pinakothek der Moderne. The four institutions at the Pinakothek der Moderne will have the opportunity to develop an innovative programme above and beyond their ‘traditional’ exhibition activities that will present their respective holdings in the context of the contemporary trends and developments in their respective fields.

In an official statement, Wolfgang Heubisch, the Bavarian State Minister responsible for the arts said: ‘This is our chance to design the Schaustelle in the Pinakothek der Moderne in an attractive and meaningful way. The Schaustelle is a piece of good fortune for the four collections and visitors to the museum. This interim solution is yet another wonderful example of the constructive cooperation between all parties involved. We at the Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences, Research and the Arts are working hard to push forward the necessary state renovation plans for various cultural institutions across the whole of Bavaria. Their preservation is, after all, a concern for us all.’

In a joint statement, Klaus Schrenk, Florian Hufnagl and Michael Semff declared: ‘This presents a challenge to our four collections to come up with an experimental strategy for the use of the pavilion space itself and for the programme of events held there within the limited timeframe. The focus of our endeavour will be the multimedia visual world that is reflected in the various collections and their approaches.’

In this vein, the Sammlung Moderne Kunst, part of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, will showcase performances and new media art. Die Neue Sammlung – International Design Museum Munich – will present the latest developments and trends in the world of design. The Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, meanwhile, will focus on the topic of the ‘original’ artwork in the virtual visual spheres of the digital age.

Andres Lepik, who in October of this year will be taking over the post of director of the Architekturmuseum der Technischen Universität München, also housed at the Pinakothek der Moderne, immediately got involved in the project and, through his previous work, had at his fingertips the ‘Aus.Gestell’ planning concept, devised by Berlin-based architects J. Mayer H. Their design system for a multimedia, experimental exhibition construction is being quickly adapted to suit the Munich project. In his up-beat statement, Andres Lepik said: ‘The production of cultural events lies at the heart of the temporary platform. This is also wholly in keeping with the nature of the simple scaffold structure, which is, quite simply, an interior and exterior space, easily adaptable for display purposes – and not some architectural icon. The Schaustelle will be a great attraction for the city and its inhabitants.’

The ground floor of the Schaustelle contains a large exhibition space that can be readily adapted to suit the requirements of the various exhibitions of the four collections. The open scaffold structure in the outdoor area is expected to serve as a projection area, making it an additional exhibition space. The scaffold structure allows visitors to walk through it, while they catch new glimpses of the city beyond, set off by works on display from the collections. Accompanying events, including some at night, multimedia projections in the outdoor area and a viewing platform overlooking the city centre: all these things will reveal new and exciting perspectives of the Kunstareal and the collections it holds. ‘This is a concrete chance to mobilize the public space in the Kunstareal by having the museums and collections work together,’ said Susanne Schaubeck, who heads urban development at the Kunstareal.

The Stiftung Pinakothek der Moderne and the four institutions at the Pinakothek der Moderne are using the temporary platform to send a political signal to push for the completion of the second section of the main building. As Markus Michalke, Chairman of the foundation said: ‘The Schaustelle is a working platform and conceptual think tank in one. I am positive that the insights gained from the project will provide vital inspiration for the Pinakothek der Moderne and set the course for future museum contents and room plans for the building’s second wing. For without the completion of the second section, the Pinakothek der Moderne will remain incomplete both in terms of the space available and the breadth of works on display.

Apart from the foundation itself, another partner providing backing for this attractive Pinakothek der Moderne project is Audi AG. In a press statement, Toni Melfi, head of Audi Communications, announced: ‘It is important for us that something new is created and arises as a result from the collaboration. For in the very different nature of the two partners lies the great strength of pooling together their different resources, resulting in increasing value-creation from both sides. As Melfi adds: ‘As everyone knows, our brand stands for progress, and it is for this reason that we constantly break new ground through our various commitments to projects, in that in each instance, we are able to channel our competencies in diverse company areas into an unusual context.’