The bi-annual Private Art Kirchberg (PAK) event, which started in 2006 and welcomes around 1,200 guests, saw the last edition postponed twice due to the pandemic. Since the last event held in 2018, several new exhibitions and art collections have been acquired by the participating institutions, who are eager to take guests on a re-discovery of the popular business and financial centre through the special lens of art.

The works of renowned European and international artists will be displayed during the open-day taking place on 25 September as office buildings are transformed into art spaces--be it in already established underground galleries with temporary and permanent exhibitions or large auditoriums usually reserved for business meetings.

“We have a triple objective. First, for companies, it’s a way to show how we invest in art and especially our corporate social responsibility, local and international footprint, and show how art can break communication silos, promote interactions within organisations and with stakeholders from different companies,” explains Delphine Munro, head of arts and culture at the EIB.

Packed programme

Spread across the Kirchberg district, each of the institutions has developed individual programmes to keep guest entertained during the seven-hour adventure.

Law firm Allen & Overy will welcome participants in its building beside the Philharmonie tram stop to discover four video artworks that form part of its collection and collaboration with the nearby Mudam modern art museum. These videos showcase the works of Luxembourgish-French artist Brognon Rollin, German video artist Julika Rudelius, Canadian artist based in London Mark Lewis, and Mexican artist Gonzalo Lebrija, and will be shown on separate screens, including a big screen in its auditorium. In addition, the firm will display the famous painting by Fernand Bertemes “Les Maîtres du Jeu” and organise an exclusive tour of its terrace revealing an impressive view of the city as well as host face painting sessions for kids and adults.

Arendt will be switching things up by introducing a selection of works by Francesca Woodman, popular for her striking black and white images. The firm has handpicked about 60 images from its corporate and private collection of the American photographer who died at the age of 22 years from suicide. In addition to guided tours and visits of Julian Opie’s sculptures in front of the building, two other rooms will be exceptionally open to the public containing the works of Marie-Jo-Lafontaine and Beat Streuli.

Under the overarching theme “female perspectives”, financial services company Clearstream will showcase a selection of contemporary photography works by six artists from the collection of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, which manages the photo art-related activities of the Art Collection Deutsche Börse--with 2,200 works by 150 artists from 30 countries. Photographs of women from different time-zones and age-groups shot on different dates will make up part of the displayed photographs. Guided tours in different languages forms part of its line-up for the day.

Part of Deutsche Bank Luxembourg's permanent contemporary art collection--which includes works of over 40 artists--will be made accessible, alongside a discovery of its building. A key highlight of its programme will likely be the special large art exhibition titled “We are part of culture” and showcasing over 30 figures who have had a major impact on European culture, with several shots underlining an LGBTQ theme. “We are part of culture” or “WAPOC” was created by non-profit organisation Project 100% Human and previously displayed across 20 train stations in Germany.

The European Investment (EIB) has over a thousand works in its collection, explains Munro, adding that the bank created a special exhibition titled “Unravelling” for PAK this year. It showcases 32 works by 30 artists and highlights the EIB’s acquisitions over the last four years. An earlier review of its acquisition process will now enable the participation of international artists residing in Europe, particularly those with a strong affiliation for social and environmental issues. Works by award winning artists such as Kapwani Kiwanga, Taysir Batniji, Yan Pei Ming are a few key names from the exhibition.

Multinational investment bank and financial services company UBS is also participating with two Luxembourgish artist--Pit Molling and Serge Afanou--who will be onsite alongside their works. Also, an exhibition of works from its “Art at Work” programme--a series of artworks exhibited at UBS offices around the world including 45 photography works from Luxembourg--is on the agenda.

Art director of Mudam, has selected one “coup de cœur” from each of the diverse collections and these can be discovered at each of the locations.  

2022 special: guided tours of public spaces in English and French

A new addition to the programme this year will be several guided tours of installations and outdoor artworks in public spaces along the avenue JF Kennedy axis and environs during a special art promenade organised by the Fonds Kirchberg, which holds a collection of public space art that forms part of an urban planning reorientation programme initiated in the 1990s. Tours in English will take place at 12pm and 4pm for an hour. The meeting point is the city clock installation created by Trixie Weis (beside the entry of Radio 100,7 at 21a avenue J.F. Kennedy).

Check the full programme for more information. Private Art Kirchberg is free of charge and does not require prior registration.