Around 150 solo exhibitions in 12 years of gallery work are a reason to celebrate for the Berlin gallery Semjon Contemporary and gallery owner Semjon H.N. Semjon. On 7 March 2024, the gallery is presenting a special auction to mark the occasion. 53 artists from the gallery are supporting the gallery by donating one or more works with the sole aim of having it auctioned in the charity auction for the benefit of the gallery. This gesture of solidarity demonstrates the artists’ willingness to support their gallery even in times of acute crisis and to contribute to ensuring the gallery’s continued existence for a further period of time. Previews are possible from 6 March 2024 at 5 pm. An accompanying auction catalogue will be published online.
Above: Auctioneer’s platform used by Jan Maruhn and Semjon H.N. Semjon during the auction, set-up by Thomas Prochnow, photo: Semjon Contemporary
In the run-up to the auction, gallery owner Semjon H.N. Semjon published a letter in which he outlines the gallery’s current situation and recognises the solidarity of the artists and their commitment to Semjon Contemporary Gallery:
“Despite all the successes, great exhibitions and the many positive reactions from customers, artists and friends, small and medium-sized galleries have been struggling since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting negative economic chain reactions after the difficult coronavirus period.
In this situation, all the artists who work with me or who are associated with me have backed me in an unprecedented gesture of solidarity. They are prepared to donate one or more works to the gallery with the sole aim of having them auctioned off in favour of the gallery. They are waiving their fees in order to support the gallery in these times of crisis and ensure its survival. This is unique, especially as the works on offer are first-class works selected jointly by the artist and myself, which vouch for their high artistic quality.
And that’s not all: the artists have expressly authorised me to value the works at 50% of the usual market value as a minimum bid. This is also an expression of their solidarity. All the more reason to praise their courage and generosity with regard to the auction on 7 March at Semjon Contemporary. I greatly appreciate this generosity and am infinitely grateful. The auction will take place on 7 March at 7pm at Semjon Contemporary, Schröderstr.1, Berlin-Mitte.
Now it is up to you to acquire wonderful art and become part of this magical project. I would like to thank you and all the artists for your commitment. This is a unique opportunity to acquire your favourite work of art at a unique price. We will be happy to toast this unique evening with you after the auction over a glass of crémant or wine.
With best regards,
Yours Semjon H. N. Semjon”
Procedure
29 February, 8.00 p.m. Upload of the PDF-Auction Catalogue
1 March, 11.30 p.m. Bid update
2 March, 11.30 p.m. Bid update
3 March, 11.30 p.m. Bids update
4 March, 11.30 p.m. Bids update
5 March, 11.30 p.m. Bids update
6.3., 5-9 p.m. Preview
6 March, 11.30 p.m. Bid update
7 March, 7 p.m. Admission + registration
7 March, 8 p.m. Start of the auction
7.3., 10 pm After the end of the auction: Coming together
Written bids can be sent to the gallery by email until Wednesday, 6 March 2024 at 8 pm. Bids will receive a bidder number. You do not have to be present in person if you do not have time.
Participating artists
001/002 – Colin Ardley. 003 – Martin Assig. 004/005 –Jürgen Baumann. 006 –Andrea Baumgartl. 007 – Mathias Bothor. 008/009 – Edward L. Buchanan. 010 –DAG. 011 – Takayuki Daikoku. 012 – Dittmar Danner aka Krüger. 013/014 – Angela Dwyer. 015 – Ute Essig. 016 – Elllinor Euler. 017 – Experimental Setup. 018 – Katja Flint. 019 – Thomas Florschuetz. 020 – Andreas Fux. 021 – Dave Grossmann. 022 – Olaf Hajek. 023 /024 Renate Hampke. 025 – Jens Hanke. 026 – Sabine Herrmann. 027/028 – Marc von der Hocht. 029 – Nataly Hocke. 030 – MK Kaehne. 031 – Klaus Killisch. 032 – Stephanie Kloss. 033 – Harald Kohlmetz. 034 –Katja Kollowa. 035/036 – Michael Kutschbach. 037/038 – Via Lewandowski. 039 – Angela Lubic. 040 – Nanne Meyer. 041 –Henrik U. Müller, 042 – Christoph Niemann, 043 – Susanne Pomrehn, 044/045 –Thomas Prochnow, 046 – Dirk Rathke, 047 – Nikola Richard, 048/049 – Ursula Sax, 050 – Christiane Schlosser, 051/052 – Gerda Schütte, 053/054 – H.N. Semjon, 055/056 – Gil Shachar, 057/058 – Li Silberberg, 059 – Elisabeth Sonneck, 060/061 – Klaus Steinmann, 062/063 – Stefan Thiel, 064 – Petra Tödter, 065 – Hitomi Uchikura, 066 – Royden Watson, 067 – Bettina Weiß, 068 – Nicole Wendel, 069 – Majla Zeneli
WHEN?
Auction: Thursday, 7. March 2024 from 7 p.m.
WHERE?
Semjon Contemporary
Schröderstraße 1
10115 Berlin-Mitte
