Rothenburg 30
48143 Münster
Germany
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 11am–7pm
T +49 251 46157
info@westfaelischer-kunstverein.de
But you, yourself, with your own hand must open this door
Edona Ademi, Djellza Azemi, Anjesa Dellova, Blerta Haziraj, Doruntina Kastrati, Anita Muçolli, Leart Rama, Abi Shehu, Dardan Zhegrova
March 2–May 19, 2024
But you, yourself, with your own hand must open this door, after a line from the poem Dera magjike (“The Magic Door”) written by the Yugoslavian poet Mira Alečković in the 1940s, is dedicated to a generation of young artists who live in Kosovo and Albania or whose origins can be traced back to these countries. Although these two countries are united by a common language and shared traditions, they are also constituents of a larger geographical region with a complex and conflict-laden history characterised by ethnic, cultural and political differences. How do contemporary questions of identity and belonging play out in this geopolitical context and what can we learn from it?
The exhibition presents works by artists born in the early 1990s who strive to contribute to the shaping of the future while dealing with our fragile present, which is currently once more defined and riven by a mindset of division.
Curated by Cathrin Mayer and Kristina Scepanski.
Funded by Kunststiftung NRW and Pro Helvetia—Swiss Arts Council.
Ndayé Kouagou
June 15–September 15, 2024
In summer, Westfälischer Kunstverein presents the first institutional solo exhibition of the French artist Ndayé Kouagou (b.1992, Montreuil) in Germany. Ndayé Kouagou’s various practices are always based on language, without there being a hierarchy between the resulting works. They range from the tangible form of a painting or boldly printed slogans, to videos that evoke the world of so-called influencers, to the intimate and ephemeral nature of performances and workshops. As a self-taught artist, Kouagou has a different take on the sometimes exclusive nature of the art world and is driven in his work by the longing for dialogue and openness.
Curated by Kristina Scepanski.
Winner of the ADAGP Connexion Internationale Grant for Contemporary Art.
Mooni Perry
October 12, 2024–January 26, 2025
The Korean artist Mooni Perry (b.1990, Seoul) manages to link big ontological questions with technological innovations and fantasies of the future. Her recent project aims to explore and redefine the realm of East Asian science fiction, anchored in ancient East Asian cosmologies and philosophies, thus providing a perspective that distinguishes it from Western interpretations. It poses the fundamental question: What encapsulates the essence of East Asian Science Fiction? What could it look like without an Anglo-American influence?
The project aspires to spark new thoughts, broaden the comprehension of the genre, and journey into the depth of human experiences within an East Asian cosmological setting. By doing so, it strives to carve out a fresh narrative within East Asian Science Fiction.
A new video work will premiere at Westfälischer Kunstverein and the artist’s first monography will be published.
Curated by Kristina Scepanski.
Funded by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung under its support prize “Catalogues for Young Artists.”
