gimme, gimme more

Whether through works of art, seashells or soccer cards – the greatest joy in collecting is to share the passion with others. SAMMELMUT [the spirit to collect] arises from the pleasures of sharing: the exhibition presents highlights from the storage of the municipal painting collection Wilhelmshaven and of the prestigious Graphothek. It offers surprising insights into private collections. And it integrates loans of more recent positions, in- cluding some related to the exhibition history of Wilhelmshaven and providing a contemporary perspective on collections.

Why do people collect? Is it a research interest, a strive to pre- serve memories or a desire to live on through objects? Does collecting make one rich? How does the human body collect? The comprehensive side programme seeks answers and does not forget that a spirit to collect is mostly based on love.

Since the founding of the Verein der Kunstfreunde für Wilhelmshaven in 1912, art has a home in the region and in the Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven. Works by Lovis Corinth, Franz Radziwill, Niki de Saint Phalle and David Hockney found their way to the Jade Bay. The Spanish court is also present here, in the form of a group of pop art sculptures by the artist collective Equipo Crónica. However, a comparison between the exhibition history and the collection also reveals missed chances, the lack of attention paid to female artists and the absence of more contemporary art acquisitions. How can the spirit to collect be sparked, sustained, and carried into the future? Perhaps through art that you can borrow! As part of the exhibition, the long-closed Graphothek – a collection of prints for loan will be reactivated. Packed and easily tucked under the arm, the loaned art will find a temporary home among your personal collections.

With Works by HANS PETER ADAMSKI, ANATOL, KAREL APPEL, KATJA AUFLEGER, GEORG BASELITZ, JOSEPH BEUYS, DAVID BORGMANN, ASTRID BRANDT, MARCEL BROODTHAERS, PAVEL BÜCHLER, CHRISTO, LOUISA CLEMENT, LOVIS CORINTH, EQUIPO CRÓNICA, MARCEL DUCHAMP, RAINER FETTING, LILI FISCHER, POPPE FOLKERTS, HELMUT HERTRAMPF, DAVID HOCKNEY, JOHANN JANSONIUS, GEREON KREBBER, OTTO MODERSOHN, GRAHAM NICKSON, TOM MOSLEY, LUCILA PACHECO-DEHNE, SIEGFRIED PAGEL, SIGMAR POLKE, FRANZ RADZIWILL, DAVID RAUER & SAMUEL TREINDL, NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE, EVAMARIA SCHALLER, JOHANN GEORG SIEHL-FREYSTETT, BEN VAUTIER, PETER WEIBEL, HARTMUT WIESNER, MATTHIAS WOLLGAST, LEONARD WÜBBENA, ROBERT ADRIAN X u. v. m.