This exhibition follows the lively developments that occurred in Hanover’s art world mid-20th century, from the first exhibition that Werner Schmalenbach organised to re-discover Kurt Schwitters at the Kestner-Society in 1956 to Niki de Saint Phalle’s public installation of her “Nanas” in 1974.
Both events marked significant milestones in the history leading up to the establishment of the Sprengel Museum Hannover. During the 1960s, the Bernhard Sprengel Collection was first shown to a general audience at the ‘Kunstverein’, the Kestner Society as well as at the Niedersächsische Landesmuseum Hannover in 1965. The collector also generously donated some of the art he’d collected to the city of Hanover, which led, in 1979, to the laying of the cornerstone for the museum.
The heart of the collection comprises a review of the multi-facetted art scene, indeed, a gamut of cultural developments in Hanover in the fascinating decade that we now know as the ‘60s. Together with independent figures and galleries, exhibitions and museums all illustrate how diverse and far-thinking the scene there once was.

The exhibition will include a selection of about 100 works: paintings, sculptures, and works on paper realised by internationally recognised artists who exhibited in Hanover in the 1960s. A 200 page-catalogue featuring numerous illustrations will accompany the exhibition.

This exhibition is kindly supported by the Niedersächsische Lottostiftung.

Together with NDR Kultur, the Sprengel Museum Hannover will be holding a reading, featuring Henning Rischbieter in the museum’s auditorium at 6.30pm on 4 December, 2007.