© Jörg Gläscher
DEUTSCHE BAHN
Bringing Art Underground
Deutsche Bahn has commissioned urKultur to produce a feasibility study and artistic concept for a series of train stations in the heart of Berlin. This commission builds on the pilot project completed by urKultur with the artist Christoph Niemann in Wannsee last year (see below). Ausgang Friedrichstraße, a new platform for art, was launched in 2019 with a first commission by Berlin-based art collective, Slavs & Tatars. A new commission is being planned for Autumn/ Winter 2020.
Client: DB Station & Service AG
Role: Curator & Commissioner
Date: Ongoing
Monopol > Berliner Morgenpost >
© Ruth Ur
JEWISH COUNTRY HOUSE
Contemporary artists and historic houses
urKultur is partnering with the University of Oxford on a major research programme led by Professor Abigail Green. The Jewish Country House Project aims to establish Jewish country houses as a focus for research, a site of European memory and a significant aspect of European Jewish heritage and material culture. urKultur is working with Oxford to create a series of artistic commissions, opening up the subject to a wider audience. The first commission is a new body of work by prize-winning architectural photographer Hélène Binet. The project has just been awarded Creative Industries Seed Fund Award.
Client: University of Oxford
Role: Curator, New Commissions
Date: Ongoing
© Konrad von Bethmann
SALONICA REVEALED: Tour and talks
The Jewish Museum Frankfurt commissioned urKultur to curate a 4 day visit to the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki for their patrons and donors. Through a series of tailor-made lectures, interviews and walks the group was given an insight into both the Jewish and multicultural culture that characterised Salonica/ Thessaloniki over centuries and its almost entire destruction during the
Holocaust. Meetings with the Mayor and President of the Jewish Community, as well as with eye-witnesses and students, provided unique insights and perspectives.
Client: Jewish Museum Frankfurt
Role: Curator & Producer
Date: 2019
© Christian Werner
WANNSEE
by Christoph Niemann
'Wannsee' is an 80m long - permanent
- site specific art commission initiated and curated by urKultur for Deutsche Bahn at Wannsee Station, Berlin. The artwork by Germany's leading illustrator Christoph Niemann, represents his first major public art work. Die Zeit Magazine dedicated a 6 page feature to it! Photos courtesy of Jörg Gläscher unless stated otherwise. More links to selected articles below and a short film by the artist.
Client: DB Station & Service AG
Role: Curator & Producer
Date: 2018
© Bundespräsidialamt
BEGEGNUNG AM BELLEVUE
Ruth Ur and Edmund De Waal
As part of series called Begegnung at Bellevue (Encounters at Bellevue), Ruth Ur and the artist and author of bestselling Hare with the Amber Eyes, Edmund de Waal, were invited to meet with Bundespräsident, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The subject of the meeting was an exchange of ideas and perspectives on the changing role of art in processes of commemoration and remembering, and in strengthening of civil society.
Date: 2018
© Efrat Kowalsky and Heide von Beckerath
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, THESSALONIKI
Museological Concept
urKultur produced the Programmatic and Museological Feasibility Study for the planned 6,000 sqm Holocaust Museum & Research Centre in Thessaloniki. This project represents one of the biggest and most sensitive cultural projects under development in Greece today. urkultur was also responsible for presenting to the major donors: German Government and Niarchos Foundation.
Client: Jewish Community Thessaloniki
Role: Author of Report with Stefanie Oswalt. In cooperation with Efrat Kowalsky Architects, Heide von Beckerath and Deloitte Greece.
Date: Ongoing
© David Christian
BUCKINGHAM PALACE PEACOCK
To celebrate 70 years of India's
independence, Ruth Ur commissioned the first-ever site-specific art projection to cover the entire façade of Buckingham Palace. The illuminated peacock was designed by the London/Bangalore based, all-female design start-up, Studio Carrom.
Client: HM The Queen
Role: Curator for British Council and in cooperation with the Indian High Commission, London
Date: 2017
© Arne Krueger
LIEBERMAN VILLA
Strategic Advisor
The Liebermann Villa is a small treasure of a museum on the shores of Lake Wannsee. It is the former home of German impressionist artist Max Liebermann and the museum is dedicated to his life and work. The Liebermann Villa invited Ruth Ur to work with them over a period of 18 months to develop new strategies and events to draw in younger audiences, forge
international links, new funding streams and to help put Berlin's best kept secret on the map.
Client: Liebermann Villa Berlin
Role: Strategic Planning, International
Partnerships, Fundraising, Acquisitions and Special Projects
Date: 2017 - 2018
© Ruth Ur
The ART OF DIPLOMACY
British Ambassador's Residence Berlin
urKultur was invited to develop a custom-made tour of the incredible range of British art works hanging in the British
Ambassador's Residence in Berlin. The Residence collection includes works by masters of British painting such as Walter Sicket, Leon Kossoff, as well as portraits of royals and significant points of connection between Germany and Britain.
Client: British Embassy
Role: Concept & Tour
Date: Ongoing
© Clemens von Wedemeyer
SUN CINEMA, MARDIN
Ruth Ur initiated and directed 'My City' a major 3 year public art programme financed by the European Commission and private and public partners to strengthen Turkish-European relations. Six leading
European artists were selected by an international jury and paired with 6 cities across across Turkey: Trabzon, Canakkale, Ankara, Mardin, Istanbul and Konya. Over the course of 3 years the artists were given the resources to create a public art work in honour of their appointed city. Pictured here is Clemens von Wedemeyer's part land art, part cinema, set in Mardin and overlooking the Mesopotamian plains,
Date: 2010 - ongoing
Client: European Commission
Role: Director 'My City' Programme
(€2.2m) for British Council