Since the opening of the museum building designed by Tadao Andō in 2004, the Langen Foundation has regularly showcased changing exhibitions of international artists, as well as parts of the collection of Viktor and Marianne Langen.

The passionate collecting activities of the founding couple Langen have been an identity-forming cornerstone of the Langen Foundation. On the occasion of this year’s 20th anniversary, a comprehensive exhibition is now being shown, which, based on the works of the collection of Viktor and Marianne Langen, focuses on the collected works of the children and grandchildren of the founding couple.

Nine family members, who were influenced by the passion of their parents or grandparents, provide insight into their very personal exploration of art, in order to honour the life’s work of Viktor and Marianne Langen. In doing so, the selected works are brought together for the first time in a dialogical arrangement across different media, formats, and genres. In this diversity of different artistic positions, the focus is repeatedly on art-historically significant artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Geta Brătescu, or Jean Dubuffet, whose works were partly collected over several generations. Relevant actors of current art such as Marcel Dzama, Claire Morgan, or Julius von Bismarck are also represented with works.

The interest and passion of the collector couple Viktor and Marianne Langen in art was not limited to the artworks of classical modern Europe. Their private fascination with foreign cultures and business trips took them to Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, Mexico, China, India, and Japan. “We always wanted to see the great cultures of the world with our own eyes. We have been able to fulfil this wish. Our art collections are ultimately the tangible result of our travels.” (Marianne Langen) Viktor and Marianne Langen acquired beautiful and rare art objects directly in the country of origin. For the anniversary of the Langen Foundation, selected art objects from the collection of Viktor and Marianne are presented in the Japan Room from all the countries they visited. The exhibition provides a very personal insight into the collecting passion of the couple.