Johann König hosts physical art fair Messe in St. Agnes in Berlin gallery
Johann König, a gallerist based in Berlin, is organizing an art fair called Messe, which will run from June 17 to 26 at his gallery in the old St. Agnes church. The name 'Messe' cleverly means both 'mass' and 'fair' in German. To create an atmosphere of a traditional fair, König has put up temporary walls inside the church to mimic booth setups, featuring works from numerous gallerists and collectors, including creatives like Elmgreen & Dragset, Alicja Kwade, and Neo Rauch. This event aims to provide a tangible alternative to online fairs like Art Basel's Online Viewing Rooms happening from June 19 to 26. Plus, a physical version of König's online booth will debut on June 15, just ahead of Art Basel's preview.
Key facts
- Johann König organizes Messe in St. Agnes fair in his Berlin gallery from June 17 to 26.
- The fair is held in the former St. Agnes church, with temporary walls for booth-like displays.
- Artists featured include Elmgreen & Dragset, Alicja Kwade, Neo Rauch, Daniel Richter, Isa Genzken, Martin Kippenberger, Otto Piene, and Katharina Grosse.
- The event is a physical alternative to virtual fairs like Art Basel's Online Viewing Rooms (June 19-26).
- König will also host a physical version of his Art Basel virtual booth starting June 15.
- The initiative is framed as a protest against the trend of online viewing rooms.
- David Zwirner and Massimo De Carlo have similarly shared virtual platforms with other galleries.
- The fair responds to the COVID-19 lockdown's impact on the art market.
Entities
Artists
- Johann König
- Kasper König
- Walther König
- Elmgreen & Dragset
- Alicja Kwade
- Neo Rauch
- Daniel Richter
- Isa Genzken
- Martin Kippenberger
- Otto Piene
- Katharina Grosse
- David Zwirner
- Massimo De Carlo
Institutions
- König Galerie
- St. Agnes
- Art Basel
- Ludwig Museum
- Virtual Space
- Artribune
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany