die kunstbar

die kunstbar
at the chargesheimerplatz
Foto: KAPESCHMIDT.com
the location
After the broad redevelopment of the Cologne Domplatte (the area in front of the Cologne Cathedral) and the station forecourt, a new location emerged right across “Alter Wartesaal” with its landmarked halls.
Its banana shaped form extending just below the new outside staircase as well as its huge and cylindrically bent
windows, make this place a very exceptional and thus appealing location.
the idea
Every year, the carriers will assign the task of designing the kunstbar with a given budget to a different well-known
artist.
The artist is granted broad artistic freedom and the chance to combine all facets of artistic expression to form one
unique work of art – using color, light, sound/music, painting, objects, photo/video, furnishing and even the variety
of beverages at the bar.
However, the location is not meant to function as an exhibition gallery: At all times, the vibrant bar business keeps
going, giving all kinds of audience the opportunity to meet and mingle all night (!) long.
All of this is taking place right in the heart of Cologne, a city known as the centre for media.
The operators and their partners assume that this project will not only attract art lovers, but in the long term also
and especially business and media people and the in-crowd.
Every year, it will arouse curiosity anew...
art bar / bar art
The gastronomic concept will be just as unique as the architectural and artistic choice. Concerning the beverages,
the main focus lies on a large variety of cocktails which are creatively mixed, shaken or stirred by professional
bartenders and served by charming waiters and waitresses.
The respective artist will also have an influence on the range of all other beverages such as beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks. Those “drinks of the artist” will become a permanent part of the range of drinks offered at the
kunstbar. Every year, the “new” artist’s drinks will be added to the drinks menu, which will grow to become a sort
of the kunstbar’s almanac.
The integration of a cocktail school, taking place at the kunstbar during daytime, is also planned.
the ‘first artist’
In his teenage years, the Belgian Arne Quinze was a homeless
Graffiti artist, until one day he decided to leave his artistic (illegal) anonymity behind and to dedicate himself to design and
three-dimensional art.
In 1999, he created the “Primary Pouf”, a seating object that
could also be seen as a raised middle finger to the design
world.
Made from cold foam, this cube on legs also heralded the birth
of the furniture design company Quinze & Milan, of which he is
still the creative director.
Today furniture by Quinze & Milan can be found in the interiors
of some of the most emblematic buildings of the past decade,
such as Rem Koolhaas’ Public Library in Seattle, while Quinze
also designs for other leading brands such as Swarovski, Dark
and Moroso.
From the outset, Quinze & Milan used the slogan Creators of
Atmosphere: a piece of furniture was not an aim in itself but
stood for a lifestyle that challenged the reigning minimalism:
wild and sexy, carefree and fun, loud and outrageous.
Even the highly critical world press soon welcomed Quinze as
the pop star of furniture and the bad boy of the design world,
a bit of punk, but also a bit of Prada. Quinze & Milan were
soon critically acclaimed as the darling among European design groups.
In 2006, Quinze won instant fame with Uchronia, a gigantic
sculpture exclusively built with wooden slats and nails in the
Black Rock Desert, Nevada, as part of the Burning Man Festival, and destroyed by fire at the end of the event.
Foto and text: www.arnequinze.tv/biography
When Arne Quinze first heard about the “die kunstbar” project
in Cologne, he was instantly enthusiastic about the object’s
highly unconventional architecture. “I love unique architecture,
I love unique design and I love unique bars”, said Arne Quinze
during his first visit of the site and hereupon created “the eye
project” which will be presented to the public for the first time
on November 14, 2008.
the sequel
Since the 12. of June
2009, Ingo Stein, designer of communication, is creating the
new face of the kunstbar.
His concepts is titled:
“ANOTHER
GIRL’S
PARADISE”.
Ingo Stein is working
interdisciplinary - in his
work at the kunstbar he
utilizes the whole spectrum of his skills: Illustration, video production, art-, fashion- and
interior design
ANOTHER
GIRL’S
PARADISE” is based
upon an open concept.
Ingo Stein is going to
work on it throughout
the whole year.
The face of the bar will
change monthly, weekly or maybe even daily.
The artist is influencing
the interior, the compilation of beverages, the
music, special events
and
conceptional
events.
The fact that Ingo Stein
is working at night,
gives you the chance
to meet him in person
while working or spinning some records.
the operators
Paolo Campi
Managing Partner and Operator of
Alter Wartesaal Cologne
Andreas Lichter Managing Partner Pro - Programme für Bühne
und Fernsehen GmbH
Info:
www.wartesaal.de www.pro-gmbh.de www.koelnischerkunstverein.de www.quinzeandmilan.tv
www.studioarnequinze.tv
www.arnequinze.tv
www.ingostein.de
www.myzoo.de