Our Present

14.2.–16.8.20

For many, the present seems incomprehensible and inexplicable. Although we are confronted daily with new diagnoses of the present – condensed into buzzwords such as digital change, post-factual age, migration society or climate crisis – we are losing ourexperience of the moment and of contemporaneity.

<p>Frida Orupabo, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Nordenhake Gallery, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Frida Orupabo, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Nordenhake Gallery, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Frida Orupabo, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy die Künstlerin, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cos, 1987, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Frida Orupabo, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy die Künstlerin, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cos, 1987, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Forensic Oceanography/Forensic Architecture, Mare Clausum – The Sea Watch vs Libyan Coast Guard Case 2018, Courtesy the artists, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cos, 1987, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Forensic Oceanography/Forensic Architecture, Mare Clausum – The Sea Watch vs Libyan Coast Guard Case 2018, Courtesy the artists, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cos, 1987, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Forensic Oceanography/Forensic Architecture, The Crime of Rescue – The Iuventa Case 2018, Courtesy the artists, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Forensic Oceanography/Forensic Architecture, The Crime of Rescue – The Iuventa Case 2018, Courtesy the artists, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Pauline Boudry und Renate Lorenz, Silent, 2016, © Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Pauline Boudry und Renate Lorenz, Silent, 2016, © Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, since 2018, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, since 2018, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, since 2018, Courtesy the artist, Berlin, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, since 2018, Courtesy the artist, Berlin, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Basim Magdy, New Acid, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Basim Magdy, New Acid, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hanne Lippard, Courtesy the artist, Work by Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, seit 2018, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hanne Lippard, Courtesy the artist, Work by Eric Baudelaire, Where are you going?, seit 2018, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Nancy Holt, Over the Hill, 1968-2012, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Nancy Holt, Over the Hill, 1968-2012, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p> </p>

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Wong Ping, Wong Ping's Fables 2, 2018, Courtesy the artist and Edouard Malingue Gallery, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Wong Ping, Wong Ping's Fables 2, 2018, Courtesy the artist and Edouard Malingue Gallery, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Transformation Scenario, 2018, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Transformation Scenario, 2018, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Geumhyung Jeong, Spa & Beauty, 2017, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Geumhyung Jeong, Spa & Beauty, 2017, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

Yesterday, today and tomorrow fall into one. The future is already happening in the present, which has not yet come to terms with the past. It seems that the present is either endless or disappearing altogether. Against this background, the exhibition “Our Present” shows how artists relate to the present, and the forms that they give to it. The works exhibited address topics such as physicality, identity, politics and technology.

By including different cultural contexts, in awareness of a common media sphere and its linkage of the past and the future, the exhibition opens up a multiple perspective to its viewers on differing ideas of the present today.

The issue of the present marks the beginning of our 2020 programme under the artistic direction of Thomas Thiel, while simultaneously including a fresh presentation of the collections in the sense of revisualizing the past.

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Maria Lassnig, Yvonne Rainer and Lucian Freud, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Yvonne Rainer and The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Maria Lassnig, Yvonne Rainer and Lucian Freud, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Yvonne Rainer and The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Maria Lassnig, Die Falknerin, 1979, Selbstportrait mit Schwein, 1975, Ritter mit Krücken, 2005, Die Astronautin, 1968/69, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Maria Lassnig, Die Falknerin, 1979, Selbstportrait mit Schwein, 1975, Ritter mit Krücken, 2005, Die Astronautin, 1968/69, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Lena Henke, My Trust, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Work by Maria Lassnig, Die Falknerin, 1979, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Lena Henke, My Trust, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Work by Maria Lassnig, Die Falknerin, 1979, © Maria Lassnig Foundation, Vienna 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Lena Henke, My Trust, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Work by Simone Forti, Solo No. 1, 1974, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Lena Henke, My Trust, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Work by Simone Forti, Solo No. 1, 1974, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Lucian Freud, Woman Holding Her Thumb, 1982, Naked Man on Bed, 1992, © The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Foto: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Lucian Freud, Woman Holding Her Thumb, 1982, Naked Man on Bed, 1992, © The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Foto: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Charles Atlas, Hail the New Puritan, 1985/86, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Charles Atlas, Hail the New Puritan, 1985/86, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Isaac Julien, Encore, 2003, Courtesy der Künstler, Work by Dan Graham, Rock my Religion, 1983-85, Courtesy der Künstler, Work by Stephen Willats, Fifteen Feet by Eight Feet and there are Two of us Here, 1980, Courtesy der Künstler, Foto: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Isaac Julien, Encore, 2003, Courtesy der Künstler, Work by Dan Graham, Rock my Religion, 1983-85, Courtesy der Künstler, Work by Stephen Willats, Fifteen Feet by Eight Feet and there are Two of us Here, 1980, Courtesy der Künstler, Foto: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Francis Bacon, Small Study for Portrait, 1955, Study for Portrait (Pope), 1957, Man at Curtain, 1949-50, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection, © The Estate of Francis Bacon/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Francis Bacon, Small Study for Portrait, 1955, Study for Portrait (Pope), 1957, Man at Curtain, 1949-50, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection, © The Estate of Francis Bacon/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Francis Bacon, Study for Portrait, 1962, © The Estate of Francis Bacon/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Joan Jonas, Vertical Roll, 1972, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Francis Bacon, Study for Portrait, 1962, © The Estate of Francis Bacon/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Joan Jonas, Vertical Roll, 1972, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Andrea Robbins/Max Becher, Black Cowboys, 2009-2015, Courtesy the artists, Works by Jochen Lempert, Vogel in der Hand, 1998, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Bridget Riley, Quiver, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Andrea Robbins/Max Becher, Black Cowboys, 2009-2015, Courtesy the artists, Works by Jochen Lempert, Vogel in der Hand, 1998, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Bridget Riley, Quiver, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Bernd and Hilla Becher, Watertowers, 1988, Contemporary Collection, MGKSiegen, © Estate Bernd und Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Bernd and Hilla Becher, Watertowers, 1988, Contemporary Collection, MGKSiegen, © Estate Bernd und Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Stephen Willats, Fifteen Feet by Eight Feet and there are Two of us Here, 1980, Courtesy the artist</p> — Stephen Willats, Fifteen Feet by Eight Feet and there are Two of us Here, 1980, Courtesy the artist

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Aglaia Konrad, Shaping Stones (Mexico City), 2008-2009, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Gordon Matta-Clark, Program Six: Splitting, 1974, © Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark/ARS, N.Y., Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Aglaia Konrad, Shaping Stones (Mexico City), 2008-2009, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Gordon Matta-Clark, Program Six: Splitting, 1974, © Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark/ARS, N.Y., Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Giorgio Morandi, Natura Morta, 1915-1962, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Vajiko Chachkhiani, Hunters, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Giorgio Morandi, Natura Morta, 1915-1962, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Vajiko Chachkhiani, Hunters, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Giorgio Morandi, Natura Morta, 1960, Natura Morta, 1962, Natura Morta, 1962, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection and Collection of the City of Siegen, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Giorgio Morandi, Natura Morta, 1960, Natura Morta, 1962, Natura Morta, 1962, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection and Collection of the City of Siegen, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Vajiko Chachkhiani, The other life, 2014, Hunters, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Work by Lucian Freud, Children´s Playground, 1975, © The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Vajiko Chachkhiani, The other life, 2014, Hunters, 2014, Courtesy the artist, Work by Lucian Freud, Children´s Playground, 1975, © The Lucian Freud Archive/Bridgeman Images, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Charlotte Posenenske, Vierkantrohre Serie DW 1967, © Estate Charlotte Posenenske/Burkhard Brunn, 2020, Work by Sol LeWitt, Serial Project No. 1 (ABCD), 1966, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Charlotte Posenenske, Vierkantrohre Serie DW 1967, © Estate Charlotte Posenenske/Burkhard Brunn, 2020, Work by Sol LeWitt, Serial Project No. 1 (ABCD), 1966, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work byJohn Baldessari, Baldessari sings LeWitt, 1972, Courtesy the artist, Sol LeWitt, Serial Project No. 1 (ABCD), 1966, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work byJohn Baldessari, Baldessari sings LeWitt, 1972, Courtesy the artist, Sol LeWitt, Serial Project No. 1 (ABCD), 1966, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

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<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cap i vernis, 1990, © Fondation Antoni Tàpies Barcelona/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Works by Cy Twombly, Untitled, 1967, Untitled, 1957, © Cy Twombly Foundation, N.Y., Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Antoni Tàpies, Cap i vernis, 1990, © Fondation Antoni Tàpies Barcelona/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Works by Cy Twombly, Untitled, 1967, Untitled, 1957, © Cy Twombly Foundation, N.Y., Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hans Haacke, Blue Sail, 1965/2001, © Hans Haacke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Rupprecht Geiger, 399/63, 1963, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hans Haacke, Blue Sail, 1965/2001, © Hans Haacke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Rupprecht Geiger, 399/63, 1963, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Arbeiten von Fritz Winter, Kristall, 1933, Ineinander, 1933, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Hans Haacke, Fotonotizen documenta 2, 1959, © Hans Haacke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Arbeiten von Fritz Winter, Kristall, 1933, Ineinander, 1933, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Hans Haacke, Fotonotizen documenta 2, 1959, © Hans Haacke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Bridget Riley, Studies, Tracings, 1980-2009, Clepsydra I, 1976, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Bridget Riley, Studies, Tracings, 1980-2009, Clepsydra I, 1976, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Bruce Nauman, Slow Angle Walk, 1968, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Works by Bridget Riley, Studies, Tracings, 1980-2009, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Bruce Nauman, Slow Angle Walk, 1968, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Works by Bridget Riley, Studies, Tracings, 1980-2009, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Bridget Riley, Tremor, 1962, Untitled (Study for Tremor), 1961, Courtesy the artist, Work by Bruce Nauman, Slow Angle Walk, 1968, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Bridget Riley, Tremor, 1962, Untitled (Study for Tremor), 1961, Courtesy the artist, Work by Bruce Nauman, Slow Angle Walk, 1968, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Sigmar Polke, Ohne Titel, 1983-2006, Weißes Kästchen, 1970, © The Estate of Sigmar Polke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Works by Sigmar Polke, Ohne Titel, 1983-2006, Weißes Kästchen, 1970, © The Estate of Sigmar Polke/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Candida Höfer, Antica Tessiture Luigi Bevilacqua Venezia II, 2003, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Hans Hartung, T1956–8, 1956, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Katharina Grosse, Ohne Titel, 2019, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Candida Höfer, Antica Tessiture Luigi Bevilacqua Venezia II, 2003, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Hans Hartung, T1956–8, 1956, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Work by Katharina Grosse, Ohne Titel, 2019, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Hans Hartung, T1956-13, 1956, T1956-8, 1956, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection, MGKSiegen, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — Hans Hartung, T1956-13, 1956, T1956-8, 1956, The Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection, MGKSiegen, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Niele Toroni, Falsches Bild. Wahre Malerei. Pinselabdrücke Nr. 50 in regelmäßigen Abständen von 30 cm, 2017, Courtesy the artist, Work by Hans Hartung, T1957-7, 1957, © 2020 VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p>

<p> </p> — Our Present, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Niele Toroni, Falsches Bild. Wahre Malerei. Pinselabdrücke Nr. 50 in regelmäßigen Abständen von 30 cm, 2017, Courtesy the artist, Work by Hans Hartung, T1957-7, 1957, © 2020 VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

With contributions by
Eric Baudelaire
Pauline Boudry/
Renate Lorenz
Forensic Oceanography/
Forensic Architecture
Geumhyung Jeong
Hanne Lippard
Basim Magdy
Frida Orupabo
Wong Ping
Clemens von Wedemeyer
as well as works from the
Lambrecht-Schadeberg Collection
and the museum’s Contemporary
Art Collection by
Charles Atlas
Francis Bacon
John Baldessari
Bernd und Hilla Becher
Vajiko Chachkhiani
Simone Forti
Terry Fox
Lucian Freud
Bernhard Fuchs
Rupprecht Geiger
Dan Graham
Katharina Grosse
Hans Haacke
Hans Hartung

Lena Henke
Candida Höfer
Nancy Holt
Joan Jonas
Isaac Julien
Aglaia Konrad
Maria Lassnig
Jochen Lempert
Sol LeWitt
Gordon Matta-Clark
Giorgio Morandi
Bruce Nauman
Nam June Paik
Otto Piene
Sigmar Polke
Charlotte Posenenske
Yvonne Rainer
Bridget Riley
Andrea Robbins/
Max Becher
Emil Schumacher
Antoni Tàpies
Diana Thater
Niele Toroni
Cy Twombly
Stephen Willats
Fritz Winter

Booklet “Our Present” (.pdf)

42 Events and 87 Works in the collection

Exhibition kindly
supported by Education program
kindly supported by Media partner