Kunstmuseum Singen

In the heart of Singen, a charming town nestled in the picturesque region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, stands the Kunstmuseum Singen, a beacon of modern and contemporary art. Founded in 1990, this museum has grown into a cultural cornerstone, showcasing the artistic heritage and contemporary creations from the international Four-Country Region of Lake Constance encompassing Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. After a significant modernization and spatial expansion, the museum was reopened in 2014, now boasting around 1,000 square meters spread over two floors.

The Evolution of Kunstmuseum Singen

The roots of Kunstmuseum Singen can be traced back to 1947 with the first Singen Art Exhibition. This event marked the beginning of a rich tradition of art exhibitions in the town, eventually leading to the establishment of a municipal art museum. The vision was to make the historically grown art collection of Singen (Hohentwiel) accessible to its citizens and the art-loving public. The municipal council's decision to create a publicly funded art museum culminated in the opening of Kunstmuseum Singen in the city center in 1990.

An Extensive Collection

The museum's collection, comprising around 5,000 paintings, graphics, photographs, sculptures, and installations, narrates over a century of artistic history in the Lake Constance region. The museum's exhibition, educational, and research activities are anchored in four main collection focuses: the landscape of the Hegau and Lake Constance since 1900, exile at Lake Constance – Höri artists from 1933 to 1960, modern art from southwestern Germany, and contemporary art from the Euregio Bodensee.

The Hegau and Lake Constance Landscape

The oldest artworks in the museum's collection depict the landscapes of the Hegau, Hohentwiel, and Lake Constance. These works illustrate how these scenic motifs were rediscovered and deemed worthy of artistic representation around 1900. Initially, it was mainly visiting painters who captured the landscape in various styles, from objective to atmospheric. Soon, local graphic artists, painters, and photographers followed suit. The depiction of the local landscape remained a central theme for many regional artists well into the late expressionist period of the 1960s. The evolution of landscape painting in the Hegau and Lake Constance region mirrors broader art historical developments, transitioning from topographical descriptions and idealized portrayals to autonomous landscape images influenced by plein air painting. The artists increasingly embraced the freedom of art for ever more individual, bold color, and formal experiments, resulting in a diverse array of works in the Singen collection.

The Höri Artists

The paintings, graphics, sculptures, and photographs of the Höri artists form the valuable core of the Kunstmuseum Singen's collection. The museum uniquely represents almost all Höri artists, including their circles, with extensive work groups. This central collection has shaped the museum's entire collection, exhibition, and research activities.

Around 1900, several writers, including Hermann Hesse, discovered the Lake Constance peninsula Höri. After World War I, some painters followed, seeking new, unspoiled, Mediterranean-inspired motifs in a conscious departure from the big cities. The first generation of Höri artists, still rooted in traditional landscape painting and plein air, laid the foundation for a vibrant artistic community.

With the rise of the National Socialists in 1933, a second wave of artists moved to Höri, fleeing the cities under entirely different circumstances. The dismissal of politically unreliable professors, the defamation of modern, abstract, and expressionist art as degenerate, and the threat of bombing in the cities drove these artists to rural regions. The remote Lake Constance peninsula Höri, also due to its proximity to Switzerland, became a preferred refuge. Notable artists like Otto Dix, Max Ackermann, Erich Heckel, and others found sanctuary here, contributing significantly to the region's artistic legacy.

Public Art in Singen

Beyond its walls, Kunstmuseum Singen also contributes to the city's public art scene. Singen, under the Hohentwiel, is home to numerous outdoor artworks by renowned artists such as Otto Dix, Joseph Kosuth, Curth Georg Becker, and Ilya Kabakov. These public art installations enhance Singen's reputation as a city of public art in the Lake Constance region and southwestern Germany.

The Singen Art Exhibitions – Foundation of the Collection

After World War II, the burgeoning city of Singen recognized its proximity to the Höri artists as an opportunity. The 1947 Singen Art Exhibition marked a new beginning, offering a platform for modern art and providing long-oppressed artists a stage to present their current works. This initiative quickly evolved into an annual exhibition series (from 1949) that resonated far beyond the region until its conclusion in 1972. The success of these exhibitions was largely due to the collaboration between Mayor Theopont Diez, Cultural Office Director Herbert Berner, and artistic director Curth Georg Becker.

Initially, the exhibition focused on Art in Hegau and at the Lower Lake. However, the Singen-born painter Curth Georg Becker, who returned to the region in 1943/46, soon transformed the Singen Art Exhibitions into supra-regional forums. By the 1950s, Becker was one of the most renowned representatives of festive-figurative oil and watercolor painting in Germany, influenced by the Académie Matisse and the École de Paris. The list of guest artists, secessions, and groups invited to the Singen Art Exhibitions from 1953 onwards reads like a Who's Who of French-influenced post-war modernism in Germany.

In conclusion, Kunstmuseum Singen is not just a museum; it's a vibrant cultural hub that celebrates the rich artistic heritage and contemporary creativity of the Lake Constance region. Its diverse collection, engaging exhibitions, and significant contributions to public art make it a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Whether you're exploring the historical landscapes of the Hegau and Lake Constance, delving into the works of the Höri artists, or enjoying the public art installations throughout Singen, the Kunstmuseum Singen offers a unique and enriching cultural experience.