MENSCH BERLIN Anniversary exhibition – Celebrate 40 years of art with Stiftung Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank!
The Kunstsammlung der Berliner Volksbank and the Stiftung Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Founded in 1985 in Berlin (West), the collection took on a special position in the West German cultural scene due to its initial focus on art from the GDR.
Under the leitmotif „Bilder vom Menschen – Bilder für Menschen“ (“Images of People – Images for People”), later expanded to include Berlin cityscapes, the founders built up one of the most important collections of figurative art of the post-war period.
With reunification, the ratio of East and West German art began to equalise. Today, the collection consists of over 1,500 works by around 200 artists. The extraordinary profile of the collection offers the opportunity to compare artistic creation in Berlin and neighbouring regions before and after the fall of the Wall.
The anniversary exhibition MENSCH BERLIN traces this development and builds a bridge from the past to the present. It shows the transformation of the art scene in Berlin and neighboring regions and a wide range of artistic perspectives perspectives – from the Berliner Schule and the Leipziger Schule to the Neue Wilde to the alternative art scene in East Berlin. During its run in Berlin, from 20 February to 22 June 2025, the exhibition will change again and again. By regularly changing the works, you will not only experience the highlights of the collection at the Stiftung Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank, but also rarely shown works. Gain new insights with every visit and look forward to exciting new discoveries and rediscoveries.
MENSCH BERLIN in Vienna
The continuation of the exhibition at the renowned Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien is another highlight of the anniversary year. From 9 July to 31 August 2025, MENSCH BERLIN will be on display in the Austrian capital, taking the cultural heritage of this unique collection beyond the borders of Germany.
The exhibition includes works by:
Horst Antes, Elvira Bach, Annemirl Bauer, Rolf Biebl, Norbert Bisky, Christa Böhme, Karol Broniatowski, Gudrun Brüne, Manfred Butzmann, Luciano Castelli, Fritz Cremer, Christa Dichgans, E.R.N.A., Rainer Fetting, Wieland Förster, FRANEK, Ellen Fuhr, Klaus Fußmann, Hubertus Giebe, Sighard Gille, Hans-Hendrik Grimmling, Clemens Gröszer, Waldemar Grzimek, Bertold Haag, Angela Hampel, Bernhard Heisig, Heinz Heisig, Burkhard Held, Werner Heldt, Sabine Herrmann, Barbara Keidel, Klaus Killisch, Carl-Heinz Kliemann, Gregor-Torsten Kozik, Hans Laabs, Roland Ladwig, Helge Leiberg, Via Lewandowsky, Werner Liebmann, Rolf Lindemann, Markus Lüpertz, Wolfgang Mattheuer, Harald Metzkes, Helmut Middendorf, Roland Nicolaus, Dietrich Noßky, Barbara Quandt, Erich Fritz Reuter, Hans Scheuerecker, Cornelia Schleime, Ludwig Gabriel Schrieber, Willi Sitte, Gerd Sonntag, Hans Stein, Werner Stötzer, Strawalde, Ursula Strozynski, Rolf Szymanski, Christian Thoelke, Werner Tübke, Hans Uhlmann, Hans Vent, Ulla Walter, Trak Wendisch, Jürgen Wenzel, Bernd Zimmer and many more!
00:22:43 minutes © Stiftung KUNSTFORUM der Berliner Volksbank gGmbH.
Conversation with FRANEK, Hubertus Giebe, Hans-Hendrik Grimmling, Burkhard Held, Barbara Quandt and Ulla Walter.
A film on the anniversary exhibition MENSCH BERLIN of the Stiftung KUNTFORUM der Berliner Volksbank gGmbH with interviews with various artists (with English subtitles).
Production: art/beats, 2025
Duration: 00:22:43 minutes
00:00:27 minutes © Stiftung KUNSTFORUM der Berliner Volksbank gGmbH.
Production: art/beats, 2025
Duration: 00:00:27 minutes