Raw brick, an unplastered stairwell, tally sheets and technical scribbles on the walls. Strictly speaking, what sounds like a construction site is actually one. The north wing of the Bavarian Versailles was commissioned by King Ludwig II in 1878 but has remained unfinished to this day. The fairy tale king’s loss is future gain, because where else could works of art look better than on unplastered, earthy red brick walls.
In the context of art, people first became aware of the place in 2013, which can only be reached by ship. Under the name “Königsklasse I”, works of art by Andy Warhol, Georg Baselitz, Sigmar Polke, Dan Flavin and others, who are actually at home in the Pinakothek der Moderne, adorned the empty rooms. What was initially intended as an attempt due to renovation work on the rotunda of the Pinakothek went into the fourth round in 2019.
Waltraud Zaggl, initiator of the exhibition “380 to 780 nanometers extra class”, which can now be seen from September 2nd to 10th in the shell of the Herrenchiemsee New Palace, was one of the visitors at the time. Impressed by the gigantic effect of the art on the plain walls, says Zaggl, she made the decision: “I really want to exhibit here.” No sooner said than done, she put this wish into practice in 2017. Three painters, including Waltraud Zaggl, and two sculptors became the “extra class”. The name was created based on the “royal class”. An exhibition was curated under the motto “Color meets form”.
Allows opposites to emerge: Andrea Pfeil paints out of sheer intuition.
(Photo: Andrea Pfeil)
What began in 2017 will be continued in 2023 with a new cast. The entire ground floor of the north wing was rented for the show. Nine of the artists take on the theme of color painting and sculptures. Each in their own way. For example, Martina Hamberger paints out of pure intuition. Objects of her art are circles, lines and surfaces. Marie-Christine von Liebe focuses on the respective pigments of the color, and Veronika Schulte-Bockholt paints according to the harmony and disharmony of music. In addition to the pictures, Patricia Wolf brings objects and sculptures to Herreninsel. Other artists are Andrea Pfeil, Elisabeth Rosenberger, Gabriele Stephan and Leona Zeller. The exhibited pictures can also be bought afterwards.”
Wants to use her art to find answers about her own family history: Patricia Wolf’s work “My Jewish Identity, is it yellow?”
(Photo: Patricia Wolf)
The color blue as a symbol for life: Marie-Christine von Liebes work “Blue Globe”, 2022, acrylic on canvas.
(Photo: Marie-Christine von Liebe)
One of the rooms brings together works of art by all artists. Eglé Otto’s pictures also hang on the shell walls here. Her paintings deal with themes from Greek mythology such as images of women, power structures or the depiction of heroes. The artist, who lives in Berlin and Hamburg, will give the opening speech on September 2nd at 11 am.
“380 to 780 nanometers in a class of its own” takes an abstract approach to serious issues such as contemporary gender understanding, sustainability and recycling, or the superior relationship between man and nature. There are no shocking images of natural disasters or plastic in the oceans, but rather art that is intended to stimulate thought through the convergence and contrast of colors.
“380 to 780 nanometers extra class”, September 2 – 10, north wing of the New Castle Herrenchiemsee, information under https://www.waltraudzaggl.de