“In order of appearance.” Show of the Düsseldorf Academy of Art in the Museum K21. Until 08.03.2020

Are two already a series?

Whether an event that is taking place for the second time, can be called a “series” or even already a “tradition”, that remains to be seen. But one thing that can definitely be said is that the premiere last year was a success. This year the show is called “In order of appearance”.

It’s about a exhibition at K21. The Düsseldorf art academy shows its final class from the previous year. So, now it is the graduates of 2019 who will be showing their work for about a month in the basement of K21. About 80 artists will present their respective positions with works from almost all genres. From painting, drawing, graphics or photography and film, to sculpture, performance and installation. And all of this right in a museum.

The art academy introduces itself

The exhibition “In order of appearance” started at the same time as the annual tour of the Academy of Arts. And thus, the art academy opens its doors to the art-interested public at two important art locations. The context is exciting, even in direct comparison. If student works are shown in the academy in the workshop, as it were, the show in the museum offers a first great opportunity to be presented detached from this academic background.

The annual tour of the Duesseldorf Academy of Art is indeed a long and highly appreciated tradition. And certainly a compulsory date on the calendar for many art enthusiasts, not only those from Duesseldorf. The mega-show of students and graduates ensures a “full house” every year, sometimes with long queues in front of the entrance. And a temporary “visitor stop” due to overcrowding.  Contemplation is hardly possible, probably also because of overcrowding. But that is perhaps not the point of this tour, which is a kind of giga all-round tour of what is going on in the classrooms.

“In order of appearance”

The museum show at K21 is much quieter. And presented in a very relaxed way. “In order of appearance” is actually a phrase as you find it in the credits of films. Not according to meaning, for example in main and supporting roles, not alphabetically, but simply in the order of appearance. In fact, all graduates of 2019 were invited to introduce themselves in this exhibition.

Comments on this project are very different. Critics complain here and there that one should not open the museum doors for such very very new art. Those responsible at K21 take a relaxed view of this. They not only feel a connection to the neighboring art academy, but also want to show the completely new in many different facets. It is not at all a question of endowing these completely new works with higher museum consecrations, but simply of allowing them to be admitted on an equal footing.

Which of these will become a strong position in the long term will be revealed at some point in the future. And the visitors to the show have the great pleasure of “drawing from the full”, of discovering, exploring, and actually finding out without an art guide in their hands and completely on their own whether a work touches them, and why. This is very relaxing and a lot of fun.

And the result?

“In order of appearance” presents itself without hierarchies and very different, across all genres. 77 artists with about a hundred works are present. From “accessible” to extremely cryptic. Playful, critical, poetic. Opulent or completely reduced. There is very classical painting, photography or sculpture, also etching and embossing. Illusionistic wall painting, such as “The Corner”. A gray corner, carefully shaded from light to dark, which has been drawn very finely and meticulously with pencil by Lisa Klinger.

But also a vending machine, where you can get a new identity for “little money”. “ID Supermarket” (2019) Yiy Zhang has developed this machine, and put her own portrait photo in various passports. Very traditional themes like the “Pietá” in a very unexpected garment, by Marina Bochert. Many eye-catching installations, such as a whole stack of air mattresses. Marco Biermann and Thomas Kleiner paddled through the Rhine with them. Impressions of this unexpectedly highly elaborate expedition can be seen in the form of videos as ceiling projections when looking up from the stack of mattresses. Classical Rhine romanticism, so they say, but with a touch of danger. A playful experiment and at the same time the testing of limits make an encounter out of it, which lets you experience the familiar river in a completely different way.

“In order of appearance” offers a variety of stimulating impressions. The very relaxed art walk can still be seen until March 8, 2020. And for those who like to travel “with net and double bottom” of art history and cultural studies, there is also the offer of a guided tour by the curators. Have fun!