The development of the pilot project Kunst/Natur (Art/Nature) is closely linked to the Museum’s broadening of perspective to include cultural and artistic aspects. Within this context, the model project was developed in cooperation with the Kulturstiftung des Bundes. (Federal Cultural Foundation). Renowned artists were invited to create new works that reflect their dialogue with the Museum, its collections and research. These are displayed in a public exhibition.
Whether it is conveying depth to research, opening new perspectives, bringing life and action to natural history museums, making highly relevant or difficult parts of our heritage accessible or making an impact on society – motives behind the collaboration between contemporary art and natural history museums are as varied as the approaches and experiences of participants. The recently held conference Art / Nature. Contemporary Art in Natural History Museums and Collections discussed and reviewed mutual expectations, potentials, possible limitations and the value of such interactions and interventions from custodial, artistic and scientific perspectives.
So far, three rounds of intervention have been taking place, during which renowned artists were invited to take part and given a free hand in their choice of topics. By putting the emphasis on aspects that were intriguing from an artistic perspective, they were able to introduce new themes and aesthetic strategies to the Museum. Fernando Bryce, for example, focussed his work on inventory lists and labels from the Mammals Collection. He created a cycle of large-format pictures that highlighted day-to-day work in the collections and above all the colonial and geopolitical context of the acquisition history of the specimens.
A range of different approaches, new concepts and food for thought, new insights and views, discussion and mutual inspiration between science and art – but above all a passion for nature and art sum up what Artistic Interventions are about. “Natural history museums are organisations that are relevant to the future of the human race and planet Earth“, says Professor Vogel, Director General of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, “but it is important to open up to new approaches and perspectives. Taking stock for the first time, we can proudly say that the project has had positive results throughout.”