From September 2021 through spring 2022, the Goethe-Institut's Return gallery will host The German School, an exhibition program of artworks from the film class. Initiated by Irish artist and Städelschule Professor, Gerard Byrne, the program presents diverse new work from 24 students who originate from across five continents. Even in the wake of the past 18 months of isolationism, The German School program reflects an appetite amongst younger artists to connect internationally, affirming a constellation of localities connecting via Dublin, Frankfurt, and Elsewhere.

In recent decades the Städelschule in Frankfurt has become an important international magnet for young artists to congregate, exchange, and cultivate a diversity of artistic practices together. All this under the benign care of a 200 year old art school, in the relatively subdued city of Frankfurt.

With a pedagogical approach that is very non-prescriptive, diverse, and highly oriented towards the development of each individual’s practice, the Städelschule students work might collectively evidence new forms of Cosmopolitanism, reflective of our contemporary global conditions of connection and uncertainty.
Over the course of a program of six exhibitions at The Return gallery, The German School will consider, and reconsider these Cosmopolitanism amidst the rich backdrop of a Georgian Dublin townhouse.

Program

Drawings
September 10–October 2, 2021
with works by Gabriele Rendina Cattani, Hyunjung Choi, Arthur Stachursk, Jia Jun Nicholas Toh

Ein Loch weben
October 8–November 6, 2021
with works by Benedikt Ackermann, Jack Brennan, Jing Lin, Louis Hay, Bernhard Scheiner, Gerard Byrne

holy terrain
November 11–December 18, 2021
Rashiyah Elanga, Jordan Martin/Hell, Hemansingh Lutchmun, Maximiliano Sinani Paredes

Digital Horizon
March 11–April 14, 2022
Mahya Ketabchi, Nicole Khadivi and Alexis Gautier

Sharp Service
April 29–June 3, 2022
Ella CB, Juliet Carpenter, Nina Nadig, Dudu Quintanilla, Eva George Richardson McCrea, Gintaré Sokelyté, Lisa Strozyk

Sleepwalking
June 10–July 9, 2022
Rachel Ashton, Emma Rosenzweig, John Hussain Flindt, Paul Haas, Gabriel Possamai

The German School is presented by the Goethe-Institut Irland in collaboration with the Städelschule as part of the cultural program to mark the 60th anniversary of the Goethe-Institut in Ireland.

Supported by Städelschule Portikus e.V.