100 Years of Concrete Art
100 Years of Concrete Art: A Museum Exhibition Featuring Sali Muller
Modern life calls for new forms—this was the conviction of the pioneers of constructive and concrete art a hundred years ago. The term “Concrete Art,” among others, became a catalyst for asserting art’s autonomy and its distinctive perspective on the modern world.
For the movement’s key figure—the Dutch artist, architect, and theorist Theo van Doesburg (1883–1931)—“nothing is more concrete and nothing more real than a line, a colour, a plane.” Although van Doesburg only officially introduced the term “Concrete Art” in 1930 with the manifesto of the group “Art Concret,” he is said to have formulated it as early as 1924 and used it for his own works. In 2024—100 years later—this unofficial anniversary offers a timely opportunity to celebrate the vitality and diversity of this tradition within contemporary art.
“24! – Questions to the Concrete Present” is a collaboration between the Museum im Kulturspeicher (MiK) in Würzburg and the Museum für Konkrete Kunst (MKK) in Ingolstadt. Both institutions hold major, highly significant collections of constructive and concrete art in Europe.
The exhibition presents 24 selected artists—twelve at MiK and twelve at MKK. All were born in the 1980s and are connected, in a closer or broader sense, to this artistic lineage. Within the framework of “24!”, the artists engage with the ongoing impact of the “Concrete” idea: Do the origins of “Art Concret” influence their own visual practice? Are the principles of concrete art—often rooted in precision, geometry, and systematic composition—still relevant today? What new forms of expression are emerging, and how do they shape our perception?
“24! – Questions to the Concrete Present” explores how the multifaceted umbrella term “Concrete Art” can continue to inspire and move us. The works on view range from painting and installation to interactive digital sculptures, including augmented reality (AR).
To coincide with the exhibition opening, an accompanying publication will be released in both German and English by Deutscher Kunstverlag (DKV), featuring a historical overview of the beginnings of Concrete Art as well as essays on the individual artists.
“24! – Questions to the Concrete Present” marks the 100th anniversary of the term “Concrete Art” with works by 24 emerging artists, including pieces by our artist Sali Muller.
23 March – 22 September 2024
Further information on the exhibitions in Würzburg and Ingolstadt, as well as events surrounding the Concrete Art anniversary, can be found on the museum’s website.
