Pause of Public Program
For three years, Magasin III Museum for Contemporary Art paused its public activities to reshape the museum for the future.
When we paused the public program, Magasin III had been in existence for thirty years. The first three decades were marked by intensive exhibition production and a gradual evolution from an exhibition space to a museum with an extensive and complex collection. During those years, many new art institutions have opened both in Stockholm, Sweden, and internationally. Initiatives have emerged that have turned cities beyond the metropolises, and even remote natural locations, into cultural destinations. Private collections are being made accessible to the public. Impressive buildings are being erected. There are countless art biennales and triennials. The range of exhibitions and the pace of related programs have accelerated. Many institutions feel the need to offer much more than just art and education around it to attract visitors. At Magasin III, we have been fortunate never to have to measure success by the number of visitors. As a private institution, we have the benefit to create our own mission, and with that comes the freedom—and responsibility—to rethink our model to keep it progressive and relevant.
We have sometimes been tempted to take a more common path by thinking of a signature building. However, we realized that building our own facility would not only be a commitment that places too heavy a financial burden on the future but would also mean drifting away from what truly matters—the artists and their work. We have preferred to view our institution as “temporary” and focus our energy, attention, and resources on the content, thereby allowing the content to decide the structure. Considering Magasin III as “temporary” is a mindset that forces us to continually strive to be contemporary.
When Magasin III was founded in 1987 as Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall, private art institutions were rare in Sweden, with all major institutions fully funded by public funds. The founders, David Neuman and Robert Weil, aimed to support artists by providing them with the opportunity to experiment and create new works specifically for the exhibitions. The idea was to offer flexibility and create a space where traditional parameters were set aside, complementing other existing institutions. Over the years, an extensive and complex collection has developed, a collection that needs care, deeper exploration, and recurring exposure in new contexts. Like many other private initiatives, we needed to consider how a private collecting institution can remain relevant in the long term.
During the Intermission period, we asked ourselves how we could build on our history and collection without becoming a time capsule. How can we avoid being weighed down by our own structures? How can we regain the flexibility we had when Magasin III was launched? How can Magasin III best continue to support artists and their work?
Taking a pause to reflect on the many art experiences we have shared with the public over the years and to delve into our archives has been an important part of looking forward. Our ambition is to once again fill a gap and create a complement to a cultural and social landscape that has changed over the years. — Tessa Praun, Museum Director and Chief Curator, September, 2020
During our Intermission, we focused on making an inventory of Magasin III’s history and engaged in intensive lending activities from the collection to museums worldwide. On selected occasions, registered groups and professionals were welcomed to the museum to view works from the collection. Below are some of the projects that took place during Intermission. To read about the reopening and the new museum model, continue reading here.
Intermission interpreted by artists
September 2018–November 2019
A number of artists from the collection were asked to freely interpret the word intermission for Magasin III’s full-page advertisement in the magazine Artlover. The first interpretation was done by Lawrence Weiner, whose aphorism was also installed on a wall at Magasin III for a time.
Other artists who contributed interpretations include Siobhán Hapaska, Maya Attoun, Alexandra Zuckerman, Tal R, and Geraldine Swayne.
Installed works from the collection
Elisabeth Frieberg, Danh Vo
Curator: Bronwyn Griffith
Fall 2017–spring 2018
List of works
Turning Time
Presentation with works from the collection
Janine Antoni, Idun Baltzersen, John Bock, Cosima von Bonin, Kendell Geers, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Charlotte Gyllenhammar, Joakim Ojanen, Gabriel Orozco, Tal R, Lara Schnitger, Fredrik Söderberg, Danh Vo, Rémy Zaugg
Curators: Bronwyn Griffith and Tessa Praun
Fall 2018–fall 2019
List of works
Works by Janine Antoni at Stockholm University
October 30–November 10, 2018
To manifest the relationship between Magasin III and the future exhibition space Accelerator, two works by Janine Antoni from Magasin III’s collection were installed, both on the university campus and at Magasin III in Frihamnen.
Santiago Sierra
Fall 2019
Curators: Niki Kralli Anell and Tessa Praun
In the fall of 2019, two works from the collection by the Spanish artist Santiago Sierra were installed to coincide with Frihamnen’s 100th anniversary. Both works were created by the artist for his solo exhibition in 2009 and are directly inspired by the harbor area.
As part of the port’s celebration, the doors were opened to the public for one day.
Felix Gonzalez-Torres – ”Untitled” (Fortune Cookie Corner), 1990
May 25–July 5, 2020
Magasin III is one of the locations for the extensive exhibition of Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ work “Untitled” (Fortune Cookie Corner).
Opening of Magasin III Jaffa
January 2018
Magasin III Jaffa (in Jaffa/Tel Aviv) was inaugurated in 2018 and features both international and local artists, alongside an extensive program of events. This permanent exhibition satellite is located in a residential area, adjacent to Jaffa’s popular flea market. The large glass windows of the space allow the exhibitions to be viewed even at night.
Read more about Magasin III Jaffa.
Opening of Accelerator
September 2019
In the fall of 2019, the exhibition space Accelerator opened at Stockholm University, serving as a meeting place for art, science, and societal issues.
Accelerator presents exhibitions featuring international and Swedish contemporary art, public programs, and discussions with artists, researchers, students, and the general public.
The exhibition space emerged from a long-standing collaboration with Magasin III within Stockholm University’s Master’s program in Curating Art. Magasin III, together with the Robert Weil Family Foundation, are the Founding Patrons of Accelerator.
CiMAM
November 2018
On November 2-4, 2018, the international museum conference CiMAM took place in Stockholm. Magasin III, together with Moderna Museet and Bonniers Konsthall, hosted the conference, which had the theme The Museum in Transition. In connection with the conference, on November 3, a series of presentations were held in Aula Magna at Stockholm University on the theme of changing art institutions and their new models. Speakers included co-founder and museum director emeritus David Neuman and museum director Tessa Praun.
Read more about the conference on the CiMAM website.