VARIOUS OTHERS 2022/2023. Photo: Roman Häberle, Munich.
Yet another enticing overture to the fall art season commences this September in Munich as VARIOUS OTHERS (VO) enters its sixth year. A single, powerful idea has fueled VO since its inception and continues to guide the initiative to this day: invite local partners to collaborate with international institutions and artists to showcase Munich’s most ambitious galleries, artist-run spaces, and museums.
VO’s continued success demonstrates this idea’s resonance with its audience of art lovers worldwide and has cemented Munich’s growing presence on the global cultural stage. This year, the scale has grown to include an unprecedented number of collaborators and partners.
Phillips is proud to sponsor for a second year the VO Social Club conversation series. Below, Tobias Sirtl, Phillips’ Munich-based 20th Century & Contemporary Art Specialist, invites VO’s program director Christian Ganzenberg to discuss what’s in store for the sixth edition of VO, what you can expect from the Social Club, and what makes Munich a must-visit destination for art lovers.
VARIOUS OTHERS’ 2023 opening weekend is 7–10 September, with further events through 24 September.
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VARIOUS OTHERS Social Club 2022/2023. Photo: Pablo Lauf, Munich.
TOBIAS SIRTL: VARIOUS OTHERS is now in its sixth year. How has it grown or changed over the years and what has been the greatest joy for you?
CHRISTIAN GANZENBERG: Like many historic examples, VO also began as a “secessionist” idea: up-and-coming Munich galleries were looking for a new format that would set itself apart from existing initiatives in terms of artistic quality, representation, and international orientation. From the beginning, these galleries wanted to promote the local art scene and help Munich to be perceived as an important city for contemporary art. We have come quite a way since then and this initial notion has grown into a format of international note, attracting more than 35,000 visitors each year.
What makes VO special is Munich galleries and artist-run spaces inviting different partners to realize an extraordinary exhibition project together. Our network is continuously expanding: in 2023, more than 190 artists are part of the program, in addition to 27 local participants and 17 international partner galleries from all over the world. This aspect, and of course our special program where our guests can discover numerous places in Munich, makes each edition unique compared to its predecessors. Thanks to our partners and guests, VARIOUS OTHERS is now known beyond the city, and I am very much looking forward to the upcoming, probably most diverse, edition of VO.
TS: What led to the decision to hold VARIOUS OTHERS at the beginning of the fall art season? Do you find yourself reflecting on insights from VO throughout the year?
CG: The international art calendar is packed — we all know that. Oktoberfest and the end of summer school vacations are practical reasons for our scheduling in September. It is such a great feeling when the city fills up again, when international guests and artists arrive, and we can start the fall — perhaps the most beautiful season in Munich — with the city’s most important art weekend.
By scheduling this event in September, VARIOUS OTHERS also functions as the opening autumn event of the international art circuit and always sets an important tone, not just in Munich. But don’t forget, in addition to our opening weekend the 7–10 September, the VO program and exhibitions of our participants each run at least two weeks longer. So, any traveler coming to Munich later in September can also benefit from and participate in our VARIOUS OTHERS program.
VARIOUS OTHERS Social Club 2022/2023. Photo: Pablo Lauf, Munich.
TS: What does the VARIOUS OTHERS Social Club add to the atmosphere of the event? How does this dialogue make the experience of attendance unique?
CG: The Social Club is a format born last year from the idea of extending the hosting role VO generally likes to take to a discursive format. Selected Munich hosts invite guests that aren’t local to discuss a special topic, always taking place at changing, surprising locations. We’ve already invited guests to hotel lobbies, palm gardens, workshops, and recently to an academic venue. It’s important to me that we don’t focus exclusively on art topics. The Social Club wants to be a format that most of all explores intersections where you would usually expect boundaries with other fields of knowledge. These dialogues with musicians, scientists, philosophers, or designers are always surprising and fruitful for everyone involved, including, I hope, our guests. We are very grateful to Phillips for making this format possible.
VARIOUS OTHERS Social Club 2022/2023. Photo: Pablo Lauf, Munich.
TS: What are you most looking forward to for the future of the Munich art scene?
CG: Munich has a great, internationally renowned cultural landscape that has grown over decades. In addition to the numerous theatres, the Staatsoper, and the Philharmonic, there are several first-class art museums that feature internationally acclaimed exhibitions and make a visit to Munich worthwhile. VARIOUS OTHERS draws attention to the contemporary art scene in the city, promoting artists, galleries, and artist-run spaces. In addition to the outstanding exhibitions of the participating galleries, this year we present an exhibition that shows which extraordinary private collections are based in Munich. There are many great personalities in the city who not only promote their own initiatives and present an exceptional program but are also committed to raising this feature of Munich’s art scene. I am therefore very confident that our format will continue to be well received by all sides: by our Munich participants, patrons, and sponsors — and above all, by our visitors.
VARIOUS OTHERS Social Club 2022/2023. Photo: Pablo Lauf, Munich.
TS: Outside of VARIOUS OTHERS and the wonderful cultural institutions of Munich, where should attendees be relaxing? Are there any restaurants or cafés that you’re fond of, where the atmosphere is particularly creative?
CG: There are many places because Munich is generally a very relaxed and livable city. Some of them are even recommended in our VO Map, which is available in the galleries and museums as well as online. Also — and this is very personal — I love watching all kinds of people relaxing by the Isar after a busy day. Institutions that never disappoint are lunch at Schummann’s in the Hofgarten and a drink at Goldene Bar, especially after an opening at Haus der Kunst, or at Favorit Bar.
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Christian Ganzenberg is an author and curator who lives between Munich and Berlin. After studying in Stuttgart and Pittsburgh, he was involved in a corporate collection. He has conceived numerous exhibitions in galleries, project spaces, and museums in Germany and worldwide. In parallel, he has published monographs on contemporary artists, including Martin Boyce, Natalia Stachon, Cao Fei, Thierry Geoffroy/Colonel, Nic Hess, Leonhard Hurzlmeier, and Hartmut Böhm. Since 2022, he has been program director of VARIOUS OTHERS in Munich.
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