Ruin and reconstruction of the Church of our Lady, Dresden

The History of Reconstruction – The Construction of History

22.07.2010 - 31.10.2010
Pinakothek der Moderne

For years “reconstruction” has been the subject of a heated debate. However, reconstructions can be found since Antiquity, as throughout history buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt if required, for a variety of reasons and with alternating perceptions and definitions of “reconstruction”. A look at history and a differentiated view at the concepts can help to set the problems and arguments in a wider historical context, thus relieving the current discussion of its emotional aspect.

As exposed witnesses of the past and in front of everyone’s eyes, buildings have always played a particular part in the formation and imprint of a “cultural memory” (Jan Assmann). With a deliberate recourse, the lost ‘place of remembrance’ is restored as an important bearer of the most diverse meanings by means of a reconstruction. Many reconstructions have never been debated, such as the re-erection of the Campanile at St. Mark’s Square in Venice after its collapse in 1902, others have been integrated into the history of the respective building and have long been historical documents themselves.

By means of 85 representative case studies and 200 reconstructions - ranging from Japan to Canada and from ancient Greece to the present day - the exhibition is presenting and analysing the various motives in favour of reconstructing lost buildings. The spectrum embraces reconstructions carried out for reasons of religious continuity or due to national motives, as well as in response to aesthetic concepts or commercial demands. Models, paintings, plans, photographs and animations provide a comprehensive insight into a fascinating subject.

An extensive publication with 16 essays and a catalogue of renowned scholars accompany the exhibition.

Supporting Program:

Introductions: Construction and Reconstruction of historical continuity | Lecture: Professor Dr.-Ing. Winfried Nerdinger
THU 23.09.2010 | Ernst von Siemens-Auditorium in the Pinakothek der Moderne | Barer Str. 40 | 80333 Munich | 18.00 | free entrance

Reconstruction – The second chance, or: Architecture from
the archive | Lecture: Professor Dr. Aleida Assmann
THU 21.10.2010 | Ernst von Siemens-Auditorium in the Pinakothek der Moderne | Barer Str. 40 | 80333 Munich | 18.00 | free entrance

 
Guided Tours:

Curatorial-Tour                WED | 28.07.2010 | 15.00 | Markus
Eisen/Hilde Strobl

Curatorial-Tour                THU |12.08.2010 | 18:30 | Hilde Strobl
Guided Tour                     SAT | 28.08.2010 | 16.00
Guided Tour                     SAT | 11.09.2010 | 16.00
Curatorial-Tour                THU | 16.09.2010 | 18:30 | Markus Eisen/Hilde Strobl
Curatorial-Tour                WED | 29.09.2010 | 15:00 | Markus Eisen/Hilde Strobl   

Publication:

Winfried Nerdinger (Editor)
Prestel Verlag, Munich 2010 | Paperback | 512 pages, 363 coloured and 396 b/w images

Museum Edition: available at CEDON MuseumShop | ISBN: 978-3-7913-6333-2 | Price: EUR 45,00
Bookselling Edition: Paperback with book jacket | Price: EUR (D) 69,00 | EUR (A) 71,00 | CHF 115,00 (UVP)| ISBN: 978-3-7913-5092-9

 
Press Responses on the exhibition

Bernhard Schulz in tagesspiegel Download 

Simone Dattenberger in Münchner Merkur Download

Christian Thomas in Frankfurter Rundschau Link

Wilhelm Warning on BR2 KulturWelt Link

Ira Mazzoni in Süddeutschen Zeitung Download SZ

Christa Sigg in Abendzeitung Download AZ

Walter Kittel on Deutschlandradio Kultur Link

n-tv.de Link

 


» Further Illustrations
» Impressions from the exhibition