It so happened historically that the oldest art fair in Germany takes place in Cologne. In the post-war period, the art market experienced difficult times, and Berlin lost its status as a cultural capital. To revive trade and find new names, in 1967, Cologne gallerists began organizing art fairs, where artists and potential buyers met.
In 2016, Art Cologne celebrated its 50th anniversary on a grand scale, and a few years later the fair, like many cultural projects, faced the problem of a pandemic. It was moved several times, and in the end it turned out to open only in the fall of this year – in a slightly stripped-down format and subject to strict rules. In 2021, 150 galleries from 20 countries are represented here, most of them from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Due to coronavirus restrictions, participation in the fair in Cologne proved impossible for artists from many countries.
Hungary: the invisible LGBT community
One of the central themes of Art Cologne this year is LGBT + rights in Hungary. A fighting ring was set up in the center of the pavilion, where the performance “Right for Fight” is being held for several hours. On it, Anna Adam and Johanna Shocke show the relationship of an ordinary couple – they talk, silently look at each other, rejoice together, hug and quarrel. This is one of the works of the creative team “Queer Budapest”.
LGBT parade in Hungary
Here, all objects and performances are presented in the context of what is happening in the country – in the summer of 2021, Hungary passed a controversial law on “gay propaganda”. Since July, books, educational programs and advertisements for companies expressing solidarity with homosexual and transgender people have been banned. Since then, Hungarian queer artists in their home country have had to remain invisible and face many challenges. In Cologne, they were provided with a platform where they can declare themselves and their art.
Is a woman a mother, a sex object, or is she the same person?
The role of a woman is another of the central themes of Art Cologne 2021. Who is she today – an attractive object for men, a tired mother with a long list of tasks for every day, or a person with the same rights in society? At this year’s fair, there are many more women artists who are looking for an answer to this question. Male artists, on the other hand, explore the theme of aggressive masculinity and the interaction of both sexes in public spaces.
The work of the artist Sofia Süsmilch
The problem of borders, political conflicts and division into “us” and “foes” is discussed by the artists who had to move to other countries precisely for these reasons. The topic of climate change has not been left aside either – forest fires, droughts and the troubles of ordinary people can be seen in many of the works at the fair.
Today organizers do not expect crowds of spectators and excitement around art objects, and most importantly, Art Cologne was able to open at all. Critics have already called this year’s fair restrained, somewhat conservative and uncertain, but still appropriate for its time.
See also:
.