Berlin art dealer Johann König will open a new space in a former thermal power plant on the outskirts of Munich next month, marking the company’s third gallery in Germany and fifth worldwide.
The former power plant, called Bergson, has not been in operation since the early 1980s and fell into disrepair: the building was subsequently used for illegal raves and an ice rink. It reopened this month after extensive construction work, transforming it into a cultural center with a bar, restaurant, beer garden, classical music hall, jazz hall, stand-up comedy and reading sessions.
König Bergson Gallery will open in two phases and will become one of the largest commercial galleries for contemporary art in Germany, according to a König Gallery press release. The first section opened on May 7 and is located in the atrium and silos of the former power plant. The gallery said the atrium, with its 25-meter-high ceiling, is ideal for installations and large-scale works. The first exhibition will feature the work of Monira Al Qadiri, a Berlin-based artist born in Senegal and raised in Kuwait.
“Unconventional spaces like the Bergson Power Plant inspire audiences and artists alike,” said Koenig, whose flagship Berlin gallery is located in St. Agnes Church, a former Brutalist-style church. “Munich is also a city with a deep-pocketed collector base and cultural awareness. Past projects in Munich have always been a great success.
In the second phase on July 12, König will open a new building with four floors and a total area of 1,600 square meters. There will also be a bookstore, the company said. The opening exhibition is a large group exhibition.
Several Königs Gallery artists have shown at the Munich exhibition venue, the gallery said. The Modern Painting Gallery held a retrospective exhibition of Karl Horst Hödicke in 2020, while Al Qadiri had a solo exhibition at the Haus der Kunst in the same year. ‘s work is currently on display at the Eres Foundation.
