Münsterland is known for its green oases and the distinctive landscape of castles and palaces. However, very few people know that a medium-sized town in the south-east of the region hides real art treasures. In Ahlen, for example. Visitors to the art museum there can embark on a journey of discovery into the art and cultural history of the 20th and 21st centuries. Three temporary exhibitions a year present interesting themes and positions on art from classical modernism to the present day in a variety of rooms.
Elegant, modern and simple: these three attributes describe the architectural triad that catches the eye of many visitors to the Ahlen Art Museum from afar. The extraordinary museum ensemble in Münsterland combines a 19th-century Wilhelminian-style villa with a 20th-century steel and glass composite construction and a farmhouse in the style of the early 19th century. As unusual as this architectural bridge may sound, it is all the more fitting: Red brick, gleaming aluminum and white plaster create a harmonious overall picture directly in front of the entrance to Ahlen's city park.
In keeping with the three architectural pillars, the museum's exhibitions and collection are dedicated to artistic developments from the late 19th century to the present day. Although the museum's collection, which now comprises 1500 exhibits by around 200 artists, is not on permanent display, it is regularly presented to the public on special occasions or as part of temporary exhibitions. The theme of "light" plays a special role in the museum's exhibition activities as well as in the orientation of the collection.
The special attraction between old and new is also reflected in the museum's small sculpture garden, which comprises twelve permanently installed works in the open air. While strolling along the paths of the course, art fans will come across names such as Heinz Mack, Horst Linn and Christoph Dahlhausen. The work by Adam Barker-Mill definitely stands out from the stainless steel, marble and granite frame, which is a clear eye-catcher as an LED light installation in a concrete housing.
Speaking of light installations: when darkness falls in the evening in Ahlen, visitors to the art museum are treated to a special spectacle. Thanks to video projection, the metallic surface of the central steel composite building then shines for around three hours in white strips of light that move in different directions, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, sometimes straight and sometimes in waves. The artwork "Cascade" was created by Egill Sæbjörnsson. He created the installation to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ahlen Art Museum in 2014.
