Private. Collectors. Room.

Art in exchange for stories: For more than 100 days, a former flower store became a temporary gallery for neighborly art mediation. At first glance a classic white cube gallery with changing exhibitions, low-threshold conversation and transparency in presentation and interaction characterized the gallery‘s everyday dealings. 53 artistic works changed hands here, mediated by the acting gallerists, artists Marie Donike (left) and Johannes Specks (right) as well as intern Emma Dietrich (centre).

The currency was the individual story, the personal conversation between visitor and gallerist. The artworks can now be found in allotment arbors, children's rooms and kiosks throughout the district and the city. The transfer to the new owner was documented with a photographic portrait.

Their stories, as well as the gallery conversations, were documented, archived and presented in a final exhibition together with the portraits. Through this process of participation, the Private. Collectors. Room. communicated emotional rather than material values to its visitors and initiated a direct and open discourse about art, market and values.

The project was implemented in 2020 as part of the international exhibition for art in public space GEGENWARTEN | PRESENCES and received funding from the Liebelt Foundation Hamburg.

For more information see https://www.privatecollectorsroom.de/