thekitchenhappening21

Judith Samens' Private Kitchen as a Place of Art

During the long winter of the second COVID-19 lockdown, we were all in desperate need of cultural nourishment. That’s why, starting on January 22, 2021, Judith Samen’s kitchen hosted a rotating exhibition with the character of a happening. The idea draws on a concept from Judith Samen’s early work. Exhibition In November 1993, Judith Samen organized the exhibition “Kitchen Pictures” featuring her paintings in private kitchens in Düsseldorf. Through a newspaper ad, five art enthusiasts came forward who were willing to open their kitchens for one day each to host an art exhibition and welcome the public. Over the course of a week, a different painting was on display each evening in each kitchen. A meal was prepared for the audience to complement the artwork on display. Each evening thus became a happening. The 2021 kitchen exhibition, “thekitchenhappening21,” was held contact-free, interactively, and partially virtually due to the pandemic. In the Samen family’s kitchen—a highly frequented hub of the apartment—a wall was made available. Artists were invited to present their work on this wall. In response to the artworks, the family cooked accordingly or engaged in other performative actions. This experimental project grew out of Judith Samen’s interest in the fusion of art and life and, in the Year of Beuys, drew on the traditions of Fluxus, Eat Art, and the happening—movements that also spread from Düsseldorf to the rest of the world. The presentations ran for one week, with a new artist featured every Friday. Photographer Claudia van Koolwiijk kicked off the series; as a former visitor to the 1993 kitchen exhibition, she built a bridge to that earlier art event. The presentations and the performative elements of the kitchenhappenings can be viewed on Instagram: @thekitchenhappening21

Untitled (Breakfast Vermeer Cup) and Diptych with Untitled (Breakfast 2)

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o.T. (FrühstückVermeertasse), links, Diptychon mit o.T. (Frühstück2)

2016, 34 × 24 cm

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o.T. (Frühstück2), rechts, Diptychon mit o.T. (FrühstückVermeertasse)

2016, 34 × 24 cm

Jo Spence July 9–15, 2021

Jo Spence (1934–1992) Virtual opening: July 9, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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Jo Spence 9.7.-15.7.21

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Jo Spence 9.7.-15.7.21

Arno Bojak, July 2–8, 2021

Virtual opening: June 2 at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Neulich ..."

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„Neulich ..."

Freya Hattenberger June 25–July 1, 2021

"Cultivating Your Garden"

Virtual opening: June 25, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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"Cultiver son jardin"

2013

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"Cultiver son jardin"

2013

Christoph Westermeier June 18–24, 2021

“The Dominance of Plants Over the Inorganic Realm, or Saddle of Venison and Body Shapes”

Virtual opening: June 18, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Die Herrschaft der Pflanze über das anorganische Reich bzw. Rehrücken und Leibesformen“

2021

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„Die Herrschaft der Pflanze über das anorganische Reich bzw. Rehrücken und Leibesformen“

2021

Andrea C. Hoffer June 11–17, 2021

Virtual opening: June 10, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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Two PalmTrees 30 x 30cm

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Two PalmTrees 30 x 30cm

Tilo & Toni June 4–10

Silent Opening: June 24, 2021, at 7 p.m.

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“Judith”

2021, 130 × 190 cm

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"Judith"

2021, 130 × 190 cm

Katharina Veerkamp May 28–June 3, 2021

Virtual opening: May 28, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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“Invasive Aliens (Kreuzstrauch)” und “It’s a match!”

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“Invasive Aliens (Kreuzstrauch)”

Nele Waldert May 21–27, 2021

Virtual opening: May 21, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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Venus und Wandteller

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Venus und Wandteller

2021

Silvia & Lutz Freyer May 14–20, 2021

Virtual opening: May 14, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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MAHLZEIT

2021

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MAHLZEIT

2021

Megan Francis Sullivan May 7–13, 2021

Virtual opening: May 7, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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Study for ‚Heu & Hafer‘ #1

2021, 42 × 30 cm

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Study for ‚Heu & Hafer‘ #1

42 × 30 cm

Corina Gertz April 30–May 6 and April 23–29, 2021

Virtual opening: April 30, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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RO 01 und RO 02

2019, 66 × 80 cm

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RO 01 und RO 02

2019, 66 × 80 cm

Arpad Dobriban April 23–29, 2021

Virtual opening: April 23, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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Potatoland (Ausschnitt)

2021, 168 × 180 cm

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Potatoland (Ausschnitt)

2021, 168 × 180 cm

Anke Lohrer April 16–22, 2021

Virtual opening: April 16, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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"Der Granatapfel gilt als die älteste Heilfrucht der Menschheit"

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"Der Granatapfel gilt als die älteste Heilfrucht der Menschheit“

Thyra Schmidt April 9–15, 2021

Silent opening: April 9, 2021, at 7 p.m.

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4 Arbeiten aus der Reihe Rendezvous

46 × 54 cm

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Arbeiten aus der Reihe Rendezvous

46 × 54 cm

Katja Stuke & Oliver Sieber April 2–8, 2021

Virtual opening: March 26, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Konohana Dream X“

2021

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„Konohana Dream X“

2021

Martin Schwenk March 26–31, 2021

Virtual opening: March 26, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Reste“

2021, 190 × 210 × 40 cm

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„Reste“

2021, 190 × 210 × 40 cm

Juergen Staack March 19–25

Silent opening: March 19, 2021, at 7 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Still life”

2021

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„Still life”

2021

Sonja Alhäuser March 12–18, 2021

Silent opening: March 12, 2021, starting at 6 p.m., live on Instagram

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„Putten und Mousse”

2021, 42 × 50 cm

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„Putten und Mousse”, „Putti-Kollektion”, „Modell für Schoko-Putto“

Lorenzo Pompa March 5–11, 2021

Silent Opening: March 5, 2021, starting at 6 p.m.

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“Kauderwelsch” und “Cruel Scene”

2020, 60 × 75 cm, 120 × 140 cm

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“Kauderwelsch” und “Cruel Scene”

2020, 60 × 75 cm, 120 × 140 cm

Christine Erhard Feb. 26–Mar. 4, 2021

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„P IV“

2019, 98.5 × 176 cm

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„P IV“

2019, 98.5 × 176 cm

Simone van gen Hassend Feb. 19–25, 2021

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„NEWLIFE“

2021, 60 × 80 cm

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„NEWLIFE“

2021, 60 × 80 cm

Martina Sauter, Feb. 12–18, 2021

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„insect 1“ und „insect 2“

2021, 36.5 × 48 cm, 39 × 47 cm

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„insect 1“ und „insect 2“

2021, 36.5 × 48 cm, 39 × 47 cm

Katharina Maderthaner, Feb. 5–11, 2021

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„Expander“

2021

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„Expander“

2021

Michel Sauer, Jan. 29 – Feb. 4, 2021

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„Fabrik E“ und „Camaret“

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„Fabrik E“ und „Camaret“

Claudia van Koolwiijk Jan. 22–28, 2021

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"Eierschalen" und "Amadin Ryan"

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"Eierschalen" und "Amadin Ryan"