Kunsthalle St. Annen Lübeck shows from April 5th, 2025 the group exhibition Verlagert. Art in motion. From the silver treasure of St. Annen Church to works by Käthe Kollwitz and Andy Warhol’s “Holstentor” (1980) – the depots of the Kunsthalle St. Annen and the St. Annen Museum contain precious treasures from nine centuries, some of which have never been on public display before. Now there is a unique opportunity: before the works of art are moved to an external storage facility, visitors can experience the diverse collection up close.
Image above: Andy Warhol, Holstentor (pink), 1980, © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Kunsthalle St. Annen, Lübeck / Foto: Thomas Berg.
Show depot with unexpected discoveries
The exhibition presents an impressive range of works: In the Schaudepot, important works of painting from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries as well as modern and contemporary sculptures are shown across collections and epochs – including internationally renowned artists such as Willi Baumeister, Lea Grundig, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Markus Lüpertz and Sigmar Polke. But there is also room for the surprising: religious artifacts, plaster casts of antique sculptures and rare objects such as a signed cushion by Andy Warhol. Special stories about the collections also come to light: the purchase of a medieval figure turns out to be a forgery. Other objects still bear traces of the destruction of the night of the fire in Lübeck in 1942.
Kulturgeschichte, © The Estate of Sigmar Polke, Cologne, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025, Kunsthalle St. Annen, Lübeck
A highlight of the exhibition is the silver treasure of the St. Annen Museum. These sacred objects, which were created for the former monastery church, have been hidden in the depots for centuries. Now the masterpieces are being restored as part of the exhibition and presented in their original location for the first time. Another special feature is the print by Ludwig Richter, donated to the Museum Behnhaus Drägerhaus by Dr. Christian Dräger in 2017, which is now being presented to the public for the first time as part of the exhibition.
A look behind the scenes of museum work
How do museums collect, research, organize and preserve? “Displaced. Art on the Move” raises awareness of the tasks and responsibilities of modern museums – from collecting, preserving and restoring cultural heritage to scientific research. The depot, which is normally invisible to visitors, plays a key role here: Kunsthalle St. Annen and the St. Annen Museum are taking the opportunity to open up the depot move to the public and provide insights behind the scenes of the museum’s work. Visitors can rediscover the diversity of the collections. The video work “Tightrope” (2015) by contemporary artist Taus Makhacheva, which welcomes visitors directly in the entrance area of the Kunsthalle, also tells of the challenges faced by museums. A tightrope walker balances valuable paintings between two ledges and makes the tightrope act of moving and preserving art tangible.
Supporting program: Dialogue and participation
An extensive accompanying program invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of art. Dialogic formats and participatory workshops offer exclusive insights into museum work processes and current research projects. Visitors’ perspectives are actively included and open up new perspectives on art and culture.
WHEN?
Opening: Friday, April 4. 2025, from 7 pm
Duration: Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, August 10, 2025
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm
WHERE?
St. Annen Art Gallery
The LÜBECKER MUSEEN
St. Annen Museum Quarter
St. Annen-Str. 15
23552 Lübeck
COST?
Day ticket: 12 EUR
2-day ticket: 16 EUR
Children under 18, students, holders of the Lübeck Card, holders of the volunteer card and severely disabled persons with a degree of disability of at least 50%: free
