Okwui Enwezor

4 December 2018

In the light of recent events leading to our colleague’s Okwui Enwezor abrupt departure from Haus der Kunst, the Board of CIMAM acknowledges Okwui Enwezor for the outstanding program he presented at Haus der Kunst in Münich. Recently he curated the seminal exhibition ‘Postwar: Kunst zwischen Pazifik und Atlantik, 1945-1965’, and his accomplished and defining programme at Haus der Kunst will be especially remembered for one person exhibitions of exceptional quality, recalibrating the canon of contemporary art, including younger artists as well as famous names and the re-evaluating of underestimated artists. Enwezor raised the profile of the Haus der Kunst internationally, making it an institution firmly situated within German culture, but with a perspective on art grounded in a profound respect for diversity.

The Board of CIMAM is deeply concerned by the way in which this outstanding relationship was ended. Enwezor himself recounted the details of this in a typically reserved manner: https://conversations.e-flux.com/t/its-an-insult-yes-okwui-enwezor-on-his-ignominious-farewell-from-munich/8233. The case was raised at the recent CIMAM conference in Stockholm as it is one of the many recent examples of ruptures between governing bodies and directors of contemporary art institutions. The cancellation of important shows to come, such as Joan Jonas and Adrian Piper, is causing great damage to the professional reputation of the Haus der Kunst as well as impacting other museums.