The International Artists Forum IKG was initiated by well-known artists like Joseph Beuys, Jochen Gerz, Gotthard Graubner, Klaus Staeck and others, and founded 1976 in Cologne. It was and is an association of artists, curators, critics working on the field of the visual arts. As a parallel to the Pen-Club the IKG is engaged for freedom of the art, of information and press, for the right of cultural self-determination, for tolerance and cultural diversity.
The IKG has more than 250 members from Argentinien, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarusm, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United States of America.
The International Artists’ Panel mourns the loss of its long-standing member Kasper König
(21 November 1943 – 9 August 2024)
Kasper König was a restless driving force as an exhibition organiser, museum director and teacher. Since the 1960s, he initiated numerous international art projects, including major exhibitions such as ‘Westkunst’ (1981), ‘Von hier aus’ (1984), ‘In-Between Architecture’ (2000) and the ‘Manifesta 2014’ in St. Petersburg. Together with Klaus Bußmann, he launched the ‘Skulptur Projekte’ Münster back in 1977. König brought art into the public space and, as director of the Museum Ludwig, also took a stand against the exclusive character of museums when he said: ‘The museum is a public space. It belongs to everyone and no one.’
Kasper König cultivated countless contacts with artists; his projects were based on long and intensive working relationships. Driven by curiosity and enthusiasm, he always sought the friction inherent in a life with art and for art.
The International Artists’ Panel is highly concerned about the cultural policy developments in Slovakia.
Since taking office in October 2023, the Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová, who was appointed to the Fico government by the right-wing nationalist party SNS (Slovak National Party), has been responsible for a politically motivated reorganisation of previously democratic and internationally oriented cultural institutions.
Šimkovičová recently dismissed Matej Drlička, the director of the National Theatre, and on the following day the director of the National Gallery, Alexandra Kusá. Both dismissals were completely unprepared, with no prior discussions and no reasons given. Šimkovičová subsequently made the accusation of mismanagement – an accusation that could not be substantiated by anything and which completely contradicts the success of both. At the same time, she replaced experts on the Advisory Board for Cultural Promotion with political actors. Her interventions in the cultural sector are characterised by nationalistic thinking and violate democratic behaviour. Many institutions fear for their existence and for their independent work in an international context.
The IKG was founded during the Cold War. An important goal was to maintain cultural bridges between East and West during this time. This time seemed long forgotten, but current developments in Slovakia make the original aim of the IKG sadly relevant.
We stand up for the freedom of art, for international exchange and a democratic cultural sector. With this in mind, we support the protests against the synchronisation of cultural institutions in Slovakia. We want to continue to work together with artists and with the country’s internationally active cultural institutions.
Claudia Beelitz, 20 August 2024
