Kunsthalle Bielefeld
Artur-Ladebeck-Straße 5
D-33602 Bielefeld

T 0521 32999500
F 0521 329995050
info@kunsthalle-bielefeld.de

Please note that we cannot accept external exhibition requests. We therefore ask you to refrain from submitting applications for exhibition projects. Incoming inquiries cannot be answered and submitted documents cannot be returned. Thank you for your comprehension.

Opening hours

Tue-Fri 11-18 h
Wed 11-21 h
Sat and Sun 11-18 h
Holidays 11-18 h
Mondays closed

Library
Tue/Thu 14-18 h
Wed 11-13 h/14-19 h
and by arrangement

Follow us on Instagram

Imprint Privacy policy

Jonas Feige: The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld

Cooperation with the HSBI 2022/23

A curved reflection of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld building. Columns and the protruding first floor can be recognised.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.

Based on the theory of the philosopher Gernot Böhme, Jonas Feige devotes himself to the special atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld. In a video, he places the resulting photographs in a new context with the Piano Concerto No. 2 by the composer Hans Werner Henze, which was originally composed for the opening of the Kunsthalle in 1968.

Is it possible to do justice to the essence of a building, its atmosphere, with a representative photograph?

The German theorist Gernot Böhme calls for a new approach to architectural photography, in which the aim should not be the perfect representation of a building, but the depiction of its atmosphere. He describes the atmosphere as the relationship between environmental qualities and human well-being.1 In an atmosphere, an exterior meets the interior of an individual, Böhme continues. He demands that photography should not merely create images. The decisive point of a new photograph “is […] that one succeeds in bringing into the picture the experience that one has as a person present in the vicinity of or in architectural structures […].”2 Architectural photography only becomes interesting “when it struggles with something, when it has to depict something about architecture that you don’t actually see.”3

This programmatic text by Böhme is the starting point for Feige’s examination of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld. It is an attempt – at least the atmosphere he experienced himself – to make it tangible through photography. The resulting images form a kaleidoscopic view of the Kunsthalle, in which light, color, material and reflections are used playfully. The Kunsthalle appears fragmentary due to its signatures (red sandstone, glass façade, hard and soft edges). This aesthetic, derived from the atmosphere of the Kunsthalle, can be found in a different form in the musical piece Piano Concerto No. 2 by the composer Hans Werner Henze. It was originally designed for the grand opening of the Kunsthalle, which at the time still bore the addition Richard-Kaselowsky-Haus in its name,4 in 1968. The opening had to be canceled due to ongoing protests about the proximity of the namesake to National Socialism.5

Fascinated by the aesthetic parallels between the resulting images and Henze’s music, Jonas Feige once again relates the Kunsthalle and the piano concerto to each other in an animated video.

The work was created as part of text-image seminars with Prof. Roman Bezjak and Prof. Dr. Andreas Beaugrand from the Department of Design at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences in the winter semester 2022/2023 and summer semester 2023.

1 Gernot Böhme: Atmosphäre, Essays zur neuen Ästhetik, Frankfurt, 2009.

2 Ibid, p. 119.

3 Ibid, p. 116.

4 50 years of Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2018, p. 31.

5 Ibid, p. 63.

A corner of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld building can be vaguely glimpsed.
Black and white photograph of rectangular stone slabs. The joints form a cross. The slabs are damp with large drops, sole impressions at the bottom left.
Blurred black and white photograph with rectangular panels and shadows of branches.
Parallel running silver metal rods.
Corner of an aluminium picture frame. In it an almost black work, on it the reflection of a curtain.
Detail of a wall made of rectangular stone slabs.Water is running down.
Blurred, probably rectangular geometric elements.
Perhaps the edge of a stone slab with elongated scratch marks.
A scrawny plant with few leaves on a building ledge. The wall and half-pillar are made of stone slabs.
A drawn curtain behind a window.
Shadow of parallel mounted rods on steps.
Probably a corner of a building reflected in some water. Out of focus. Reminiscent of an island in a river.
A curved reflection of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld building. Columns and the protruding first floor can be recognised.
A shoot of ivy with leaves on a stone slab with a scratched decoration.
Corner of the building and wall of the Kunsthalle. Geometric stone slabs.
Photo of a staircase with light and shadow. Strong geometric elements such as rods and struts structure the image.
Photo of a staircase with light and shadow. Strong geometric elements such as rods and struts structure the image.
Photo with stone surfaces: On the left, polished dark granite, on the right a wall evenly structured by stone slabs, in front of it paving stones.
An exhibition room. On the right a rounded column shape, out of focus. On the left, a wall with a white surface on it. At the back, a white wall with two large picture frames.
Corner of the room. At the bottom, a shiny parquet floor with a restless appearance. Above, two adjoining wall surfaces with white panels.
Blurred reflection of a wall on the ploughed parquet floor.
Outside corner (detail) of a pink-coloured building. The corner is partially damp. Above it a terrace-like projection with a stone block standing upright against the wall.
Three fingers of a slightly curved hand from a sculpture. Raindrops on it. Close-up.
View probably through a gap in a sculpture. Arm and hand can be guessed.
A wall of square stone slabs with chipped areas. A shadow on it.
Part of a building clad with square stone slabs. No window to be seen. Traces of water that may have dripped through at the top of the picture.
Corner of a building with tapered edges. Strictly geometric. An indentation underneath. Light and shadow emphasise the austere effect.
Part of a building clad with square stone slabs. No window to be seen. Traces of water that may have dripped through at the top of the picture.
A building block clad with square stone slabs, which sits on top of three column-like building elements. A wall-high window can be glimpsed next to one of the columns.
Blurred and distorted reflection of an outside corner of a pink-clad building.
Through a blurred organic structure, perhaps two arms, the part of a building made of simple geometric shapes can be recognised behind it.
A corner of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld building can be vaguely glimpsed.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Black and white photograph of rectangular stone slabs. The joints form a cross. The slabs are damp with large drops, sole impressions at the bottom left.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Blurred black and white photograph with rectangular panels and shadows of branches.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Parallel running silver metal rods.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Corner of an aluminium picture frame. In it an almost black work, on it the reflection of a curtain.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Detail of a wall made of rectangular stone slabs.Water is running down.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Blurred, probably rectangular geometric elements.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Perhaps the edge of a stone slab with elongated scratch marks.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A scrawny plant with few leaves on a building ledge. The wall and half-pillar are made of stone slabs.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A drawn curtain behind a window.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Shadow of parallel mounted rods on steps.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Probably a corner of a building reflected in some water. Out of focus. Reminiscent of an island in a river.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A curved reflection of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld building. Columns and the protruding first floor can be recognised.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A shoot of ivy with leaves on a stone slab with a scratched decoration.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Corner of the building and wall of the Kunsthalle. Geometric stone slabs.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Photo of a staircase with light and shadow. Strong geometric elements such as rods and struts structure the image.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Photo of a staircase with light and shadow. Strong geometric elements such as rods and struts structure the image.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Photo with stone surfaces: On the left, polished dark granite, on the right a wall evenly structured by stone slabs, in front of it paving stones.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
An exhibition room. On the right a rounded column shape, out of focus. On the left, a wall with a white surface on it. At the back, a white wall with two large picture frames.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Corner of the room. At the bottom, a shiny parquet floor with a restless appearance. Above, two adjoining wall surfaces with white panels.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Blurred reflection of a wall on the ploughed parquet floor.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Outside corner (detail) of a pink-coloured building. The corner is partially damp. Above it a terrace-like projection with a stone block standing upright against the wall.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Three fingers of a slightly curved hand from a sculpture. Raindrops on it. Close-up.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
View probably through a gap in a sculpture. Arm and hand can be guessed.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A wall of square stone slabs with chipped areas. A shadow on it.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Part of a building clad with square stone slabs. No window to be seen. Traces of water that may have dripped through at the top of the picture.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Corner of a building with tapered edges. Strictly geometric. An indentation underneath. Light and shadow emphasise the austere effect.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Part of a building clad with square stone slabs. No window to be seen. Traces of water that may have dripped through at the top of the picture.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
A building block clad with square stone slabs, which sits on top of three column-like building elements. A wall-high window can be glimpsed next to one of the columns.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.
Blurred and distorted reflection of an outside corner of a pink-clad building.
Jonas Feige, The atmosphere of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, 2023.

KB Journal

These are our architects
Caruso St John Architects have been appointed

Five people stand in a row in front of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld. They look cheerful.

Caruso St John have been appointed architects for the renovation of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld

Five people stand in a row in front of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld. They look cheerful.

The path to a climate-friendly museum
A contribution by Prof. Peter Gorschlüter

Presentation slide for the Museum Folkwang

A blog post by Prof. Peter Gorschlüter on his lecture ‘The path to a climate-friendly museum’.

Presentation slide for the Museum Folkwang

Look up – the road to a green museum
A contribution by Prof. Dr. Stefan Simon

A labyrinth of various pipes, cylinders and measurement displays. In the bottom right corner it states: Air conditioning Humboldt Forum, Berlin.

A blog post by Prof. Dr. Stefan Simon on his lecture ‘Look up – the path to the green museum’.

A labyrinth of various pipes, cylinders and measurement displays. In the bottom right corner it states: Air conditioning Humboldt Forum, Berlin.

Peace with Gaia – perspectives, possibilities and limits of cultural institutions in the sustainability transformation process
A contribution from Ministerial Councillor Ralph Zinnikus

Black and white photo of an old globe in a wooden frame with four legs and a ring around the equator.

A blog post by Ministerialrat Ralph Zinnikus on his lecture ‘Peace with Gaia – perspectives, possibilities and limits of cultural institutions in the sustainability transformation process’.

Black and white photo of an old globe in a wooden frame with four legs and a ring around the equator.

Curating as Care Work: Of the Museum Climate in Planetary Interdependencies and Cultural Imaginaries.
A contribution by Prof. Dr. Elke Krasny

Dark beige background with black lettering: Curating as care work imagines and practices grief work and care for the future and insists on the hope that a culture of the living, in which human and non-human living beings can breathe again with their planet Earth, is possible.

A blog post by Prof. Dr. Elke Krasny on her lecture ‘Curating as care work: On the museum climate in planetary interdependencies and cultural imaginaries’.

Dark beige background with black lettering: Curating as care work imagines and practices grief work and care for the future and insists on the hope that a culture of the living, in which human and non-human living beings can breathe again with their planet Earth, is possible.

The city, the box, the art and the climate. Attempt at a relational reassembly
A contribution by Prof. Dipl. Ing. Bernd Kniess

On a white background is written several times in black handwriting, in various sizes: Museum, below a square through which is written ,Power

A blog post by Prof. Dipl. Ing. Bernd Kniess on his lecture ‘The city, the box, art and the climate. Attempt at a relational reassembly’.

On a white background is written several times in black handwriting, in various sizes: Museum, below a square through which is written ,Power

Exhibiting and preserving as toxic paradigms. Can cultural institutions negotiate the environmental crisis?
A contribution by Prof. Dr. Peter J. Schneemann

A large fire at dusk. It eats its way through a construction of wooden slats that form a building.

A blog post by Prof. Dr. Peter J. Schneemann on his lecture ‘Exhibiting and preserving as toxic paradigms. Can cultural institutions negotiate the environmental crisis?

A large fire at dusk. It eats its way through a construction of wooden slats that form a building.

Rewilding the white cube: the role of art museums in tackling the climate emergency
A contribution from Frances Morris

A very high, shaft-like room. The entire floor is covered by a white, paintable surface on which countless drawings can be seen. People can be seen adding drawings all over the room. Large sheets of white fabric covered with splashes of paint hang from the ceiling.

A blog post by Frances Morris on her talk ‘Rewilding the white cube: the role of art museums in addressing climate emergency’.

A very high, shaft-like room. The entire floor is covered by a white, paintable surface on which countless drawings can be seen. People can be seen adding drawings all over the room. Large sheets of white fabric covered with splashes of paint hang from the ceiling.

The spatial culture of the museum
A contribution by Prof. Dr. Kali Tzorzti

On the left side six pictures of white painted exhibition rooms. Art from the Middle Ages hangs on the walls. To the right is a floor plan drawing with many black lines running through the rooms at different densities, on different paths. A red line marks a circular path through the rooms.

A blog post by Prof. Dr. Kali Tzorzti on her keynote lecture ‘The spatial culture of museums’.

On the left side six pictures of white painted exhibition rooms. Art from the Middle Ages hangs on the walls. To the right is a floor plan drawing with many black lines running through the rooms at different densities, on different paths. A red line marks a circular path through the rooms.

Vulnerable Processes. Vulnerable Processes. A Curatorial Reflection on the Museum in Transition.
A contribution by Prof. Dr. Doreen Mende

On the left, an oblong, rectangular flyer in magenta, on the right one in yellow. In large black letters on the top of both is written: Stannaki Forum Art and Research in Conversation. Below that on the left it says: 05.04.23 Motif, FROMPO. On the right it says: 07.06.23 Mining, AQU.

A blog post by Prof. Dr. Doreen Mende on his keynote lecture ,Vulnerable Processes. A Curatorial Reflection on the Museum in Transition.’

On the left, an oblong, rectangular flyer in magenta, on the right one in yellow. In large black letters on the top of both is written: Stannaki Forum Art and Research in Conversation. Below that on the left it says: 05.04.23 Motif, FROMPO. On the right it says: 07.06.23 Mining, AQU.