“Magic + Cool” is an exhibition on painting from the turn of the millennium with top-class artistic positions from Europe and America . Almost 90 works by more than 25 internationally renowned artists such as Philip Guston, André Butzer, Jonathan Meese, Albert Oehlen, Günther Förg, Mike Kelley, Daniel Richter, Sylvie Fleury and Huma Bhabha transform the Museum Penzberg – Campendonk Collection into a playground of the “noughties”. The works of art show a multi-layered view of humanity, they provide playful and satirical commentary in which consumerism, escapism and the magical oscillate.
The turn of the millennium was characterized by radical technological and social innovations, the Internet, and the transformation from analog to digital. The decade discussed globalization and experienced the shock of September 11, 2001. Against the backdrop of great social complexity, many of the works on display use the language of cartoons, myths and magic.
High and subculture seem to merge when artists seek to engage with the avant-gardes of Expressionism , Surrealism and Dada in addition to the playful components in order to underpin their respective critiques of the system. In expressive and surreal worlds, with references to art history and historical events, social issues can be discussed in many different ways - as was the case 100 years earlier with Heinrich Campendonk and his contemporaries. Visually, politically, philosophically. The inexplicable can develop a power on canvas that allows the viewer to trace it.
MAGIC + COOL extends over three floors, which are divided into thematic areas. Starting with Philip Guston's work, the radical breaks in painting of these years can be clearly understood, as can the references to the avant-gardes of the 20th century, particularly those of Expressionism through to the Dada of the new millennium and various mystical worlds.
The exhibition was curated by Annette Vogel and Kristina Lovaas .
