art | PAINTING MFA Alfred/Düsseldorf

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, the Alfred MFA painting cohort visited the Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen to meet with Julia Höner, the museum director, and be guided on a private tour. The building itself was architecturally unique, built in 1984. The museum director stated that the entryway was meant to deliver “breath and space to invite people in, to be a space for the public.”

We were guided from room to room, and the director provided insight into the works currently on view. The Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen holds one of the largest collections of kinetic art in Europe. The exhibitions were designed so that visitors could activate the works themselves, by pressing buttons stationed next to the works, designed to set the art in motion. Such a structure of art exhibition provides a veritable process of discovery. This interaction with the art makes for a playful experience, one that all age groups can enjoy. Educational programming is strong within the museum, often hosting pre-school and elementary school children, who may be having their first interactions with an art institution.

This engagement with young people is not by accident. The kinetic art on view, a large portion made directly after WWII, was made as art that hoped to rid itself of representation, and away from political means, which would often be in service of government propaganda, The artists making this kinetic work, some the artist group ZERO, had the idea of, in the director’s words, “pushing the art down from its pedestal to become more accessible for the people.” There are a select number of works that the museum encourages its visitors to touch, which in turn impacts the aesthetics of the work.

At the end of the tour, our group visited the basement of the museum – an area converted from storage of kinetic art, into an exhibition space – to see and interact with the work of Alona Rodeh, and their solo exhibition interzone.

📸 Max Heaton

On Wednesday, February 6, 2025, the Alfred MFA painting cohort visited the famous Düsseldorf Kunstakademie for Rundgang, the academy’s annual show, featuring the work of academy students. The academy’s massive halls and rooms were filled with people and art – three floors of student work. The show included sculpture, painting, works on paper, video, and installation. This annual event attracts thousands of visitors, who pack the halls to witness an impressive upwelling of young, contemporary art.

Christina Puth, a graduate of the academy, and our private guide for the day, received the Alfred cohort. To see all the rooms and works, one would need a full day of exploration! Our guide Christina situated us within the halls, showed us some works that jumped out to her, and let us loose to explore on our own.

The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf is a legendary art school and one of the most respected in Germany. The core of all degree programs at the academy is the students’ independent artistic activity, guided by classes led by internationally renowned artists. The goal of artistic study at the academy is to cultivate one’s artistic position, personality, and attitude. Students at the academy are hand-selected by the professors to join their classes. This system of instruction is made clear when one goes from room to room, where the professors’ influence and style become apparent. The students curate the rooms to make a cohesive presentation. Each room provides a map and guide to the works, and students leave their emails and contact information readily available at the door for those who want to connect!

The MFA students of Alfred finished their day with a tour through the Altstadt (Old Town) and down the river Rhine.

📸 Max Heaton