31.01.2025
Gemäldegalerie
The exhibition From Odesa to Berlin – European Painting of the 16th to 19th Century at the Gemäldegalerie (Old Masters’ Paintings) ‒ Staatliche Museen zu Berlin provided Margarete Kreuzer with the context for her documentary, Meisterwerke aus Odessa. Ein Museum zwischen Kunst und Krieg (in German and French), which she produced for ARTE and Radio Bremen. The documentary film premiere at the Filmkunst 66 cinema in Berlin-Charlottenburg is on 13 February at 8 pm.
The Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art celebrated its centenary anniversary in 2024. However, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that began in 2022 meant that the most significant paintings in the Odesa Museum’s collection had to be secretly transferred to an emergency storage facility. Few of these paintings have been shown in Western Europe before – including the Enthroned Madonna with Child and St John the Baptist by Italian artist Francesco Granacci and two works depicting the evangelists St Luke and St Matthew by Dutch artist Frans Hals.
Evacuation activities have led to an international project unusual in the artworld: The masterpieces from Odesa have not only been safeguarded but are also receiving a new focus in dialogue with paintings at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. From Odesa to Berlin is the title of the exhibition curated by Dagmar Hirschfelder, director of the Gemäldegalerie, and Sabine Lata. The documentary, produced as part of a media cooperation with the European cultural broadcaster ARTE, describes the eventful history of the collection and tells of revolutions, wars and art looting.
With Ihor Poronyk, director of the Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art, and his deputy director Iryna Gliebova, the documentary reconstructs how the artworks were relocated. Moreover, it provides insights into the collaboration between the museums – for instance, showcasing conservation work in the Study Gallery by Gemäldegalerie restorer-conservators.
The ARTE and Gemäldegalerie film premiere will be screened on Thursday, 13 February 2025, 8 pm, at the Filmkunst 66 cinema, Bleibtreustraße 12, 10623 Berlin.
The documentary features a discussion with Margarete Kreuzer (director), Ihor Poronyk (director, Odesa Museum) and Dagmar Hirschfelder (director, Gemäldegalerie), moderated by Dirk Hansen (Radio Bremen).
Free admission; advance online registration required.
ARTE will broadcast the documentary on Sunday, 16 February 2025, at 4:40 pm. It is available for viewing on arte.tv until 16 May 2025.
