Targeted Interventions

Humanoid entities and rocket objects by international contemporary artists have conquered the grounds and foyer of the Bundeswehr Museum of Military History

The Bundeswehr Museum of Military History in Dresden is perhaps one of the most fascinating cultural historic museums in Germany. After undergoing extensive renovation designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind in 2011, the New York Times selected the museum as one of the “41 Places to Go” in the world. In addition to the permanent exhibition on military technology, battlefield portraits and uniforms, the museum also stages temporary exhibitions on a regular basis featuring contemporary artistic positions. The artistic installations in the public area of Arsenalhof titled “Targeted Interventions” were designed to prepare the visitors before they entered the museum for the special exhibition “Violence and Sex”. This exhibition was dedicated to (de-)constructing gender roles and cultural-historic attributions in the context of violence, war and the military. To what extent is it possible to depict the complexity of human emotions outside of the model of the aggressive man and the peace-loving woman? The works by contemporary artists have formed an artistic obstacle course which illuminated physicality and violence in different ways. The installations preceding the exhibition appeared as foreign bodies within the general complex of the museum, confusing visitors’ usual expectations to this commemorative site of German military tradition.

Artistic director: Sarah Sigmund
Artists: Louise Bourgeois, Birgit Dieker, Guerrilla Girls, Sylvie Fleury (CH), Via Lewandowsky, Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir (IS), Morten Traavik (NO)