Kolja Reichert on What Makes a Great Exhibition: Three Case Studies
In a piece for Kulturstiftung der Länder, curator Kolja Reichert examines notable exhibitions by focusing on three contemporary shows. At Venice's Fondazione Prada, Nancy Spector's "Helter Skelter" showcases Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa, delving into themes of appropriation and racial violence. Jafa's film "SLOPEX" (2022), a slowed-down rendition of "APEX" (2013), features music by Robert Hood. Meanwhile, at Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, Grant Mooney's solo exhibition "sum," curated by Alke Heykes, presents works from 17 artists, contrasting Mooney's silver assemblages with those of Robert Morris and others. Curator Kathleen Reinhardt will feature Henrike Naumann and Sung Tieu at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Reichert references his own exhibitions as instances of fruitful interactions.
Key facts
- Kolja Reichert is lead curator at K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen.
- He was previously curator for discourse at Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn and art editor for Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
- From 2023 to 2026, he led the German section of AICA.
- He authored 'Kann ich das auch? 50 Fragen an die Kunst' and 'Krypto-Kunst: NFTs und Digitales Eigentum'.
- The essay discusses three exhibitions: 'Helter Skelter' at Fondazione Prada, 'sum' at Museum Abteiberg, and the German Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
- 'Helter Skelter' pairs Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa, curated by Nancy Spector, on view until November 23, 2026.
- Grant Mooney's 'sum' at Museum Abteiberg includes works by 17 artists, curated by Alke Heykes, until September 20, 2026.
- The German Pavilion features Henrike Naumann and Sung Tieu, curated by Kathleen Reinhardt, until November 22, 2026.
- Sung Tieu's facade uses three million mosaic tiles.
- Reichert's group exhibitions include 'Produktion' (2015), 'Alles auf einmal' (2023), and 'Grund und Boden' (2025).
Entities
Artists
- Kolja Reichert
- Nancy Spector
- Richard Prince
- Arthur Jafa
- Grant Mooney
- Alke Heykes
- Robert Morris
- Joseph Beuys
- Hanne Darboven
- Olga Balema
- Wisrah C. V. da R. Celestino
- Winona Sloane Odette
- Henrike Naumann
- Sung Tieu
- Kathleen Reinhardt
- Robert Hood
- Douglas Crimp
- Sherrie Levine
- Jack Goldstein
- Phillip Smith
- Troy Brauntuch
- Robert Longo
- Renzo Martens
- Heinrich Dunst
- Harun Farocki
- Eva Kraus
Institutions
- Kulturstiftung der Länder
- Fondazione Prada
- Museum Abteiberg
- K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Bundeskunsthalle
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung
- AICA (International Association of Art Critics)
- Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder
- Artists Space
- Klett Cotta
- Wagenbach
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Mönchengladbach
- Germany
- Bonn
- New York
- United States
- Congo