The new “MdbK meets …” series is based on the idea of local networks, the focus lies upon links to Leipzig collectors and collections. The series begins with “MdbK meets G2”, which unites works from the inventories of the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig and the Hildebrand Collection. Parts of the private collection of businessman Steffen Hildebrand have been on show to the public at the G2 Kunsthalle on Leipzig’s Dittrichring since March 2015.

The exhibition shows how the pieces of two collections can complement one another, establishing an exciting relationship. All of the paintings on show have been created since 2000, by artists who studied at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig. One piece respectively from the museum and the Hildebrand Collection by Henriette Grahnert, Rosa Loy, Jochen Plogsties, Neo Rauch and Johannes Rochhausen form a pair of pictures. The MdbK has also added paintings by Tilo Baumgärtel, Franziska Holstein, Aris Kalaizis, Christoph Ruckhäberle and Matthias Weischer, whilst the Hildebrand Collection contributes works from artists including Katrin Heichel, Uwe Kowski, Peter Krauskopf, Julia Schmidt and David Schnell.

With this selection of works the “MdbK meets G2“ aims to reflect the rich spectrum of Leipzig painters, whilst also taking a critical look at the internationally-known but often misused term “New Leipzig School”. In a cross-generational approach, artists born between the early 1960s and the 1980s are contextualised with one another. The range of styles extends from photo realism to expressive gestural painting strategies.

Recently acquired by Steffen Hildebrand, the painting “Der Übergang“ (2018) by Neo Rauch is presented in public for the first time. The second work by Rauch on display, “Fell”, from the year 2000, is owned by the MdbK. Hans Aichinger’s painting “History of Violence“ (2011) is a gift of the private collector to the MdbK from 2014 and illustrates the affiliation and amicable co-operation of the two.