Recommended by Désiré Feuerle
Maverick art collector and advisor, Désiré Feuerle has created a contemporary art destination all of his own. Think harsh cement bunker off a main road in a non-descript junction in Berlin. This is what Feuerle transformed into a must-see experience. Combining Contemporary and Ancient art (in fact he boasts of being the pioneer of this type of juxtaposed display) visitors in small groups are ushered through a subterranean expanse of dramatic lighting, ancient Asian artefacts, carefully interlaced with contemporary works. There is even a reflective lake. His space was awarded in the Larry’s List Collector Award 2016 as New Private Museum of the Year. Furthermore, he was listed in Artnet News’ Index of The World’s Top 100 Art Collectors and Artnet’s Who Are The Top 10 German Art Collectors? in 2016. Feuerle is East meets West. So who better to recommend what to visit for The Art Pilgrim? Below you will find his tips and hints of where to go and what to see.
More information about The Feuerle Collection here.
The Fondation Beyeler, Designed By Renzo Piano. Photo: Mark Niedermann
What is your favourite art space to visit? Somewhere you have been that had brought you joy.
The Beyeler Foundation always brings me pleasure. Their artworks in the exhibitions are always exquisitely selected, and it is a pleasure to go there as it is peaceful surrounded by views to cows, nature and the protected intimacy that Switzerland has psychologically for me. Time in Switzerland stops a bit – it has a very human speed, good for looking at art.
What have you seen in the past year which made you think you are looking at a new way of experiencing art? This can be an artwork, an exhibition, or a space.
I have always experienced Art as trying to float on a cloud, looking at the piece but letting the artwork take me to another level or world. I want to be seduced by the artpiece, by a space, by an exhibition, which can be compared for me, with a concert. Where harmony or disharmony is planned: from the composer, conductor, the performers and the way how it is presented.
Nature, in that respect, is a great tool to measure quality in human artistic achievements to me. It helps to question the relevance, importance, pleasure, or beauty.
What show, gallery, institution or museum have you visited that you thought was worth the travel?
The Chichu Museum in Naoshima, Japan. Experiencing and feeling deep, the modernity and the quality of Monet in its timelessness and universal beauty. To install a Masterpiece in a different way, as it is installed there, is itself a Master achievement. Including the invisible guard next to the painting.
Left: The Chichu Museum in Naoshima, Japan. Right: Interior of museum in the Monet room.
In your opinion, which city, other than London, Berlin or New York, has a really interesting and exciting art scene?
I think “The Art Center” does not exist any more. A real Center is lost or is today global. In my opinion, artists are single fighters – each one with their own vision and their own world.
If time and budget were not an obstacle, where would you like to visit (or revisit) from the places listed on The Art Pilgrim?
Teshima Art Museum. Japan with its daily natural aesthetics, the politeness, and the fact going by boat to an island stimulates our senses in a very positive way. This is Japanese sensual seduction and it is an experience entering as a guest in somebody’s world created in symbiosis to nature.
Teshima Art Museum, Japan.
If the world were coming to an end, and there was space for only one museum collection on the spaceship, which collection would you nominate and why?
I would take the best photo archive of artworks, museum spaces and installation views with me, to save and document our world heritage of artistic human achievements . One image is worth more than a thousand words. Or – I would take nothing, to start completely from scratch.
The Feuerle Collection, Berlin. Installation view.
Anything else you would like to add?
Our recent Corona limitations offer us to re-think our life – our values – our needs- to value more the moment, and the value of quality instead of quantity. Maybe a good moment to teach appreciation to our next generation. It is the key to safe our soul and the needs of sharing feelings; and the value of friendship and positive energy in our daily life.
Computers and I-phones are important, as they bring information and education to all parts of this world, but they should not manipulate the speed and values of life. In our Collection we created a mobile detox zone, and our visitors appreciate this time alone, with themselves, free of manipulation and feeling the world around them.
