Frankfurter Kunstverein - Veranstaltungen

Speaking of Others

Over the last two years, the Frankfurter Kunstverein established a new independent structure inside the institution, a living Think Tank in parallel to the exhibition program, where artists, curators and other cultural agents can get an opportunity to present their ideas and work.

Worldwide numerous initiatives are working on developing new strategies for cultural political communication and production. For these, a platform is available, where new models for thinking can be presented and tested and synergies and interactions with the specific local context can develop.

The project offers a unique possibility for support for group initiatives, cultural activists and curators. They lend a space where their research can enter into a direct relationship with the audience, making a productive feedback possible. The project poses the question of how a new language of communication between institution and audience, science and society can be formulated.

Speaking of Others is a heterogeneous presentation forum, where cultural political approaches as well as artistic production and documentary commentary can find equal expression. The aim is to be able to realise projects at different speeds, making space for both solo presentations of single positions and long term research projects.

When Kittens become Cats
Frankfurter Kunstverein presents the series of artist talks: When Kittens become Cats. The talks take place in the Café im Kunstverein every Wednesday at 7 pm.

In the second half of the last century the 'artist talk' has established itself as a format. Talking about one’s art practice is not an easy task. It first happens in the classroom, and then in the studio in front of colleagues and professionals and it finally reaches the auditorium where the artist presents her or his work, but also refers to a methodology, theoretical and practical references as well as poses questions to the audience.

This series of talks is conceived almost as a 'salon': a social meeting where the artist is in the centre. Every session is a small adventure. For some of the artists it is almost a premier to present in public, for others a routine that gets challenged every time a talk takes place.

The whole series is presented under the ironic title "When Kittens become Cats", quoting a photographic series by William Wegman that reverses the title of the famous show "When Attitudes Become Form" (1969) curated by Harald Szeemann. "When Kittens become Cats" addresses the difficulty of dealing with the notion of the 'young artist', and on the other hand creates a necessary platform where artists with different levels of professional experience can exchange ideas.

The Frankfurter Kunstverein established this series of talks as a permanent feature of the program to investigate new ways of creating meeting points between the audience and the artist, besides our exhibition programme.
After the expiration of the two-year sponsorship by Kulturstiftung des Bundes we are pleased to have found two local supporters in Helaba – Landesbank für Hessen-Thüringen and Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt am Main for the continuation of our series of talks.

When Kittens become Cats is supported by:

Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft