Twenty, now what?

In 2022, the Pinakothek der Moderne celebrates its twentieth anniversary. The anniversary is an occasion to explore the architectural history of the museum from a temporal distance and in the context of current discourses. The four Sammlungen present their building with regard to its spatial design as well as its use. For this purpose, the exhibition recalls the initial vision and alternative designs of the 1992 architectural competition by showcasing competition models from the archives of the Architekturmuseum der TUM. In addition, photomontages by Jakub Moravek and Alexander Timtschenko (Sammlung Moderne Kunst der Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen) illustrate the construction process and photographs by Zooey Braun (Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum) show the building shortly before its opening in 2002. Selected exhibitions of all four museums are commemorated by means of posters from the last 20 years.

Beyond the eventful history, the retrospective also offers the opportunity to think about the future. Video interviews with contemporaries and supporters of the Pinakothek der Moderne and participatory elements invite visitors to reflect on the building and its further potential. Which museum concepts have been realized in the Pinakothek der Moderne? What architecture was chosen to form the framework of the original vision? How can the initial social engagement, an essential part of the founding story in the early years, be an impetus for the future? How can the Pinakothek der Moderne grow in relation to the rapidly changing society and poignantly define its role in the 21st century?

The exhibition is a call to our visitors to think, to join in and to celebrate with us. Now, after twenty years, the potential of the museum needs to be reassessed.

With the support of PIN. Friends of the Pinakothek der Moderne