II 2010 The Carpet Magazine - Halbmond Teppichwerke GmbH

Editorial ::
Dear Readers,
The New National Gallery is an architectural
monument which is admired around
the world. Therefore, exhibitions always
represent a particular challenge, as every
work of art is up against the myth of the
building itself and must prove itself.
The artist Rudolf Stingel from South Tyrol
has now designed a new installation
which transforms the character of the
New National Gallery in an impressive
way. The floor area of the great glass hall
has been fitted with a carpet, the decoration
of which dates back to an original Indian
“Agra” carpet from the 19th century.
With curved lines and the rich motif decoration,
Rudolf Stingel invokes an aesthetic
in the architecture which the Bauhaus
School consciously wanted to leave behind.
The cool sobriety of the space is
softly overridden by the delicately designed
and coloured floor covering.
Homely values unusual in the building
have found their way in. Sitting and lying
down are suddenly both possible and
thinkable, where once hard granite floors
prescribed a gentle stroll.
We are extremely pleased that this carpet
installation has met with a great response
and that the exhibition has been extended
by three months. Many thanks to all
the participants and visitors.
Yours
Dr Joachim Jäger
Head of the New National Gallery
2 | The Carpet Magazine 17
New National Gallery Berlin, Germany ::
2,500 m²
of Great Art
The New National Gallery Berlin is an established institution in
the capital. With Rudolf Stingel, the gallery has been able, this
spring, to engage an internationally renowned artist, one who
has seldom graced Germany until now. This therefore gave
an outstanding opportunity to develop and present a work by
the painter and installation artist. The highlight is a giant wallto-wall
carpet, which forms a strong counterpoint to the strict
purist impression given by gallery building designed
by the former Bauhaus Director, Ludwig
Mies van der Rohe.