Kunsthalle Würth Reopens in Schwäbisch Hall as Steinmeier Warns of Threats to Artistic Freedom
After three years of renovations, the Kunsthalle Würth in Schwäbisch Hall has reopened, now boasting an additional 600 square meters of exhibition space, bringing its total to 3,200 square meters at a cost of 25 million euros. The ceremony was attended by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who cautioned against limitations on artistic freedom and pointed out the dangers facing institutions such as the Bauhaus in Dessau. He reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding artistic freedom as enshrined in the Grundgesetz and recognized entrepreneur Reinhold Würth for his contributions to culture. The reopening features a solo exhibition by Anselm Kiefer. In auction highlights, Eddy Varekamp's print fetched $500, Max Beckmann's artwork sold for 156,000 euros, and Sonia Delaunay's brooch went for 6,500 euros.
Key facts
- The Kunsthalle Würth in Schwäbisch Hall reopened after about three years of expansion and renovation.
- The museum gained roughly 600 square meters of exhibition space, totaling around 3,200 square meters.
- Construction costs were 25 million euros.
- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned against restrictions on artistic freedom at the reopening.
- Steinmeier said the Bauhaus in Dessau fears for its survival amid a new culture war.
- The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt called the Bauhaus an "Irrweg der Moderne" and wanted to rename the campaign "#moderndenken" to "#deutschdenken."
- The opening exhibition is "Anselm Kiefer – Alles, was der Fall ist."
- Swann sold Eddy Varekamp's "Untitled (Two Figures in the Bathroom)" for 500 dollars; Nagel sold Max Beckmann's 1912 "Judith and Holofernes"-inspired painting for 156,000 euros; Quittenbaum sold Sonia Delaunay's "Flamenco" brooch for 6,500 euros.
Entities
Artists
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Reinhold Würth
- Anselm Kiefer
- Cem Özdemir
- Eddy Varekamp
- Max Beckmann
- Sonia Delaunay
Institutions
- Kunsthalle Würth
- Bauhaus Dessau
- AfD
- Verfassungsschutz
- Swann
- Nagel
- Quittenbaum
- WELTKUNST
- dpa
- Grüne
- Sammlung Würth
- Die Grünen
Locations
- Schwäbisch Hall
- Germany
- Dessau
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Baden-Württemberg
- New York
- Stuttgart
- Munich
- Deutschland
- Sachsen-Anhalt