The audience and its role in the creation of a work of art lie at the centre of the 21er Haus exhibition Duet with Artist. Historical and contemporary positions show how artists activate others and call them to action.

To think of art as an essential part of life in which “everyone” can participate is not only fundamental to the understanding of art of the 20th and 21st centuries but is one of the fundamental democratic values ​​of our society. Duet with Artist establishes the museum as a central place of participation and presents over 20 international artistic stances, which demand interaction, cooperation, and sometimes also collaboration.

The exhibition addresses the active participation of visitors and encourages a critical and creative attitude. In some situations, the viewers perform an artistic act or become an art object themselves. Thus, evoked ideas can become the work of art, as can the execution of instructions or the collaboration with others. The exhibition expands upon the institution of the museum by calling for social action and creating space for encounters.

With works by Vito Acconci, Robert Barry, Joseph Beuys, stanley brouwn, Angela Bulloch, John Cage, Claus Föttinger, Rodney Graham, Hans Haacke, Christine Hill, David Horvitz, Pierre Huyghe, Yves Klein, Tomas Kleiner, Krüger & Pardeller, Mischa Kuball, Dieter Meier, Bruce Nauman, Yoko Ono, Opavivarà!, David Shrigley, Gabriel Sierra, Juergen Staack, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Wolf Vostell, Franz West und Erwin Wurm.