German Dealer Johann König Opens London Space Post-Brexit
In response to the uncertainties brought by Brexit, German gallerist Johann König is set to launch König Archiv & Souvenir at 259-269 Old Marylebone Road in London’s Marylebone district. This new venue will open its doors on October 5, 2017, coinciding with Frieze week, and aims to be a creative space for performances and community engagement. The first exhibition will highlight the gallery's journey. Additionally, a biennial publication titled The German Surplus will include dialogues with artists such as Anselm Reyle, Katharina Grosse, Norbert Bisky, Corinne Wasmuht, and Johannes Wohnseifer. Following the fair, Kiki Kogelnik will have a solo exhibition, alongside a show by Claudia Comte. König, who began his Berlin gallery with a 20,000 euro loan, is the son of Kasper König and grandson of Walther König, and represents artists like Elmgreen & Dragset, Helen Marten, and Erwin Wurm.
Key facts
- Johann König opens König Archiv & Souvenir in London's Marylebone district.
- The space is located in a former parking lot at 259-269 Old Marylebone Road.
- Opening date: October 5, 2017, during Frieze week.
- König views Brexit as an opportunity due to instability and gallery closures.
- The space will function as an experimental hub for performances and social interaction.
- Inaugural exhibition features installations and documents about the gallery's history.
- New biennial magazine 'The German Surplus' launches with conversations with artists.
- Post-fair shows: solo for Kiki Kogelnik and exhibition by Claudia Comte.
- König's Berlin galleries: former industrial building on Dessauerstraße and St. Agnes church in Kreuzberg.
- Artists represented include Elmgreen & Dragset, Helen Marten, Erwin Wurm, Katharina Grosse.
- König participates in Art Basel, Frieze, and FIAC.
- König received 20,000 euro loan from his uncle to start his first Berlin gallery.
Entities
Artists
- Johann König
- Kasper König
- Walther König
- Elmgreen & Dragset
- Helen Marten
- Erwin Wurm
- Katharina Grosse
- Anselm Reyle
- Norbert Bisky
- Corinne Wasmuht
- Johannes Wohnseifer
- Kiki Kogelnik
- Claudia Comte
- Werner Düttmann
Institutions
- König Archiv & Souvenir
- Ludwig Museum
- Martin-Gropius-Bau
- New National Gallery
- St. Agnes church
- Art Basel
- Frieze
- FIAC
- Biennale di Istanbul
- The German Surplus
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Marylebone
- 259-269 Old Marylebone Road
- Berlin
- Germany
- Dessauerstraße
- Kreuzberg
- Cologne
- China
- Russia