Press release: 27.4.2017

German National Library in Frankfurt am Main
Thursday, 4 May 2017, 19:30

A lavishly illustrated publication entitled “Zugabe. Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main” is being issued to celebrate the “Kunst am Bau” artworks at the Frankfurt library building. The book will be presented on 4 May 2017 at a public event in the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main.

With texts by the art historian Ruth Langen-Wettengl and photographs by Stephan Jockel, the book “Zugabe. Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main”contains stories about the origins of the works, background information and interpretations of the pieces. The publication has been sponsored by the Adolf und Luisa Haeuser-Stiftung für Kunst und Kulturpflege.

A “Kunst am Bau” (art in public places) competition yielded the following works by renowned German and international artists: “Backsteintore” by Per Kirkeby, “Armalamor” by Georg Baselitz, “Flügel” by Ilya Kabakov, “Bibliotheken” by Candida Höfer, “Short Time, Short Work 1966-1991” by Tobias Rehberger and “Heimkehr der Erinnerung. Fragen für Walter Benjamin” by Jochen Gerz. Klaus-Dieter Lehmann's portrait by Helmut Newton, “Ein Würfelwurf” by Klaus Schneider and “Bilder der Erzählung” by Wolfgang Nieblich and a selection of other works of art at the Frankfurt building of the German National Library are also presented.

Zugabe. Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main
By Ruth Langen-Wettengl with photos by Stephan Jockel
100 pages, 41 illustrations, soft cover, ISBN 978-3-941113-48-0, EUR 10.00

Book presentation: Thursday, 4 May 2017, 19:30
Welcome speech: Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann, Director General of the German National Library
Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main: Ruth Langen-Wettengl
“Ein Meer von Stimmen” in the “Flügel” installation by Ilya Kabakov: With Mario Krichbaum (director), Nicole Klein, Helga Liewald and Ulrich Sommer

Free admission. Register at: veranstaltungen@dnb.de

Guided “Kunst am Bau” tours:
8 June 2017, 18:00
22 June 2017, 18:00
Art historian Ruth Langen-Wettengl, author of the book “Zugabe. Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main” takes visitors on a tour of the works by Per Kirkeby, Georg Baselitz, Ilya Kabakov, Candida Höfer, Tobias Rehberger and Jochen Gerz.

Free admission. Register at: veranstaltungen@dnb.de

Background

For over a century now the German National Library has been collecting, documenting, archiving and making publicly available all written publications and sound recordings issued in Germany, or in German, since 1913. It provides its comprehensive range of services at its twin sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main, but also in digital form to a global circle of users. In addition the German National Library also houses valuable and extensive special collections in the German Exile Archive 1933-1945 and the German Museum of Books and Writing. It showcases its valuable collections and promotes the culture of books, reading and music by regularly staging readings, exhibitions, lectures and concerts. It houses over 30 million media units and attracts roughly 220,000 visitors to its two sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main with its collections and rich and varied programme of events.