Kunstsammlung NRW acquires Fischer collection, opens Wolke & Kristall

The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf has acquired the entire collection of Konrad and Dorothee Fischer, the gallerists who shaped contemporary art in West Germany. The museum presents 'Wolke & Kristall' at K20 Grabbeplatz, featuring 200 works by 40 artists spanning nearly 50 years. The exhibition recreates the gallery's spaces, including Dan Flavin's pink neon light, Hanne Darboven's mathematical notations, and Bruce Nauman's site-specific installation 'Six Sound Problems for Konrad Fischer' (1968). Also on view are works by Carl Andre, Richard Long, On Kawara, Daniel Buren, Piero Manzoni, Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis, Gilbert & George, and younger sculptors Juan Muñoz, Thomas Schütte, and Paloma Varga Weisz. The Fischer gallery opened in October 1967 at Neubrückstrasse 12, founded by Konrad Leug (alias Konrad Fischer), a former painting student at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alongside Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke, with financial support from his wife Dorothee, an art history professor. Alfred Schmela encouraged the venture. Fischer, advised by Kasper König, invited New York artists like Carl Andre, Richard Long, and Bruce Nauman to develop works in situ. The gallery became an international hub. Dorothee Fischer donated the archive to the museum, which will be digitized and made public from 2017. The exhibition runs until January 8, 2017, curated by Anette Kruszynski.