Opening: Friday, December 8, 2023, 6–10 pm

With Annabelle Agbo Godeau, Johannes Bendzulla, Marion Benoit, Robert Brambora, Catherina Cramer & Giulietta Ockenfuß, Moritz Fiedler, Fabiap. n Friese, Nicholas Grafia, Viktor Jeraj & Ulfur Loga, Jungwoon Kim, Wanda Koller, Konstitutiv der Möglichkeiten, Moritz Krauth, Fabian Kuntzsch, Harkeerat Mangat, Mira Mann, Katerina Matsagkos, Anna-Lena Meisenberg, Simon Mielke, Mena Moskopf, Felix Reinecker, Jihye Rhii, Jan-Luka Schmitz, Berit Schneidereit, Sophie Isabel Urban, Anna Vogel, Noemi Weber, Philip Wiehagen, Tristan Wilczek

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the dHCS Grant, the Kunstverein presents a group exhibition with works by 32 artists who have all been awarded the dHCS studio fellowship in the past ten years. Since 2003, the Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf and de Haen-Carstanjen & Söhne award every second year studio grants to graduates of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. In 2022, the dCHS studios were relocated to the former artist residence of German sculptor Ewald Mataré (1887–1965), located in Meerbusch-Büderich. This gives the scholarship a more collective character, with artists not only using individual studios but sharing a whole building, which includes a garden, a living room, and a shared kitchen.

The exhibition presents new and existing works by the fellows and brings together different artistic discourses, perspectives, and concerns—many of the exhibited artists have significantly influenced and enriched Düsseldorf’s younger art scene in recent years.

During the exhibition, we offer regular tours with exhibiting artists, the Kunstverein team, and Dietmar Lutz (artistic director of the Mataré house) to discuss selected works and artistic approaches. On February 20, 2024 at 6:30 pm, the Kunstverein hosts a lecture by the former Museum Kurhaus Kleve director and Mataré expert Guido de Werd who speaks about the Mataré-Haus’s eventful history.

The exhibition is accompanied by the book House of Mataré. Published by the Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, it presents current and former fellows and their works, alongside contributions by Guido de Werd, Rita Kersting, Pauline Schröer, and Sophie von Hellermann on the history and present of the Mataré-Haus.

We want to cordially thank the donor Theo Siegert, for his generous support of the scholarship over the last 20+ years and his remarkable engagement with young artists.

Curated by Kathrin Bentele in collaboration with Dietmar Lutz.

The exhibition is part of the “250 Jahre Kunstakademie Düsseldorf” program.

The exhibition is generously funded by de Haen-Carstanjen & Söhne. The publication is funded by the Stadt Meerbusch. The Kunstverein is supported by an ongoing partnership with the Stadtwerke Düsseldorf as well as the Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf.