Artists’ initiative: Kunst-Imbiss
(Hamburg / DE) www.kunst-imbiss.de
“Art is food for the mind. The Kunst-Imbiss (art snack stand) whets one’s appetite.” (Katharina Kohl und DG. Reiss)
The Kunst-Imbiss was founded in 2005 by the two Hamburg- based artists Katharina Kohl and DG. Reiß. Until today, more than 100 artist colleagues have participated in the project with small exhibits—unique copies and editions.
The Kunst-Imbiss is a sculpture in public space—“a Trojan horse” as its inventors and operators call it. It is a shining contact point on streets and squares, wherever an art offer is not necessarily expected. Through its unpretentious appearance as a chip stand and the performative way in which it is run, reservations on the side of people who are not usually interested in art are reduced. When the cover is up, art “to go” is available. Visitors can see a wide range of various art forms: Drawings, paintings, ready-mades, photographs, experimental films and publications offer many topics for conversation.
The wagon often irritates passers-by, their reactions ranging from disappointment to amusement. For most it is quickly clear that high culture, subculture and everyday culture form a symbiosis here. Many people who linger for a while acquire a taste for it. The Kunst-Imbiss also has stories to tell about the exhibits and has close contact with the artists—who may even be there themselves.
Like with a chip stand, it is often not about the chips, but about a chat with the proprietors. Katharina Kohl and DG. Reiß are good hosts—interested in their guests and enthusiastic about the works of their colleagues and art in general.
