Semjon H. N. Semjon und die Künstler:innen und Freund:innen der Galerie danken Herrn Samuel Czarny, CEO der Nicolas Berggruen Holdings, für den neuen Mietvertrag, der am 31.3.2027 enden wird!
Wir danken hier auf dieser Seite den vielen Persönlichkeiten, die hier öffentlich ihre Gedanken zu der Kündigung mitgeteilt haben!
Wir freuen uns, dass durch die Zusammenarbeit mit der Kanzlei RAUE und dem Engagement so vieler Einzelner, auch durch den Offenen Brief der vier Bundestagsabgeordneten Frau Canzel Kiziltepe, Frau Annika Klose, Herr Kevin Kühnert und Herr Michael Müller (unser Ex-Regierender Bürgermeister) und auch durch den Brief von Herrn Senator Klaus Lederer an die Nicolas Berggruen Holdings sicherlich dazu beigetragen wurde, dass es zu einer Rücknahme der Kündigung kam.
Der Schulterschluss so vieler Persönlichkeiten, aber auch die Begleitung aus der Medienwelt (Monopol, Art Newsletter, Tagesspiegel, Berliner Zeitung, rbb kulturradio, Tip, u.a.) war in dieser Angelegenheit sehr wichtig. Wir danken allen Beteiligten von Herzen!
Die gemeinsame Presserklärung (Nicolas Berggruen Holdings, Semjon H. N. Semjon, koordiniert und realisiert durch RAUE) kann hier eingesehen werden.
Berlin, den 27. Oktober 2021
Sehr geehrter Herr Nicolas Berggruen, sehr geehrter Herr Samuel Czarny von der Berggruen Holdings und von Czarny & Schiff Hausverwaltungen, sehr geehrter Herr Regierender Bürgermeister Müller, sehr geehrte Frau Bürgermeisterin in spe, Frau Giffey, sehr geehrter Senator für Kultur und Europa, Herr Lederer, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren der Politik und der Medien, sehr geehrte Berliner Bürger,
wir, die Unterzeichnenden, bitten Sie, Herr Berggruen und Herr Czarny, die Kündigung der Gewerberäume nach 21 Jahren vom Inhaber Semjon H. N. Semjon, Galerist von Semjon Contemporary und Künstler vom „KioskShop berlin (KSb)“, rückgängig zu machen. Sie entziehen damit dem Galeristen die wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen, gefährden seine Existenz und schädigen darüberhinaus die über 20 Künstler:innen, mit denen die Galerie enger zusammenarbeitet. Gleichzeitig verantworten Sie damit die Zerstörung der ortsspezifischen begehbaren künstlerischen Installation „KioskShop berlin (KSb)“, die von 2000 bis 2010 tausende Besucher gesehen und erlebt haben (und ab 5. November 2021 wieder sehen werden), und ein künstlerisches Denkmal zur Wirtschaft- und Warenwelt ist, und gleichzeitig nur in der Nachwendezeit möglich war. Semjon war als Künstler ein Pionier in der Schröderstraße, und hat diese mit seinem KioskShop und seiner Galerie ab 2011 wesentlich mitgestaltet, so sehr, dass das Haus von Ihnen, Herr Berggruen, erworben wurde.
KioskShop berlin hat die sich international neu aufstellende Berliner Kunstszene innovativ und qualitativ bereichert. Wir bitten Sie, sehr geehrte Politiker:innen und Berliner Bürger:innen, sowie Journalist:innen den Dialog mit der Holding zu suchen, um ein Einlenken in der verfahrenen Angelegenheit zu bewirken.
Colin Ardley
aus Dresden schrieb am November 23, 2021 um 4:52 p.m.
Dear Mr Nicolas Berggruen and Berggruen Holdings, I write this to make you aware of a situation that you may not even be on your radar as they say, since the present issue belongs to a very small part of the Berggruen Empire and as such may be regarded as a minor even troublesome detail. I am referring to the termination of the tenancy and none renewal of contract for the gallery “Semjon Contemporary”, Schröderstaße 1, Berlin-Mitte after a recent renovation of the building in which the gallery is situated. I write this also as a mark of respect for the gallerist who has been at this address for 20 years, first in the Project Space, “Kiosk Shop”, almost a cultural monument in the early establishment of art and culture in the former divided city of Berlin following the re-unification of Germany. Later he established Semjon Contemporary, fused the two spaces and became a cornerstone for artists, public and collectors looking for artists, quality art output and aspirations outside the mainstream gallery scene. He has made countless memorable, even boundary breaking shows. His program has little competition when it comes to diversity, creatively curated shows and ambitious and sensitive presentations. This has only been possible due to his apparently endless energy, often married to self-exploitation, conviction and belief in his artists, with whom he works very closely and of course his belief in the power of art. I have known Semjon H.N. Semjon for 30 years as an artist, colleague, gallerist and friend. He has tenacity, vision and staying power. He was and remains a godsend for the life of the gallery scene in Mitte and in Berlin generally. If you are not aware of the gallery I can only encourage you to inform yourself fully regarding its history, program,... Weiterlesen
Dear Mr Nicolas Berggruen and Berggruen Holdings,
I write this to make you aware of a situation that you may not even be on your radar as they say, since the present issue belongs to a very small part of the Berggruen Empire and as such may be regarded as a minor even troublesome detail.
I am referring to the termination of the tenancy and none renewal of contract for the gallery “Semjon Contemporary”, Schröderstaße 1, Berlin-Mitte after a recent renovation of the building in which the gallery is situated.
I write this also as a mark of respect for the gallerist who has been at this address for 20 years, first in the Project Space, “Kiosk Shop”, almost a cultural monument in the early establishment of art and culture in the former divided city of Berlin following the re-unification of Germany. Later he established Semjon Contemporary, fused the two spaces and became a cornerstone for artists, public and collectors looking for artists, quality art output and aspirations outside the mainstream gallery scene. He has made countless memorable, even boundary breaking shows. His program has little competition when it comes to diversity, creatively curated shows and ambitious and sensitive presentations. This has only been possible due to his apparently endless energy, often married to self-exploitation, conviction and belief in his artists, with whom he works very closely and of course his belief in the power of art. I have known Semjon H.N. Semjon for 30 years as an artist, colleague, gallerist and friend. He has tenacity, vision and staying power. He was and remains a godsend for the life of the gallery scene in Mitte and in Berlin generally.
If you are not aware of the gallery I can only encourage you to inform yourself fully regarding its history, program, projects and artists. Having done so you will hopefully reconsider the role of the gallery and its location as part the creative hub which is Berlin and as such reverse the termination of the gallery’s tenancy contract. This would allow Semjon H.N. Semjon to continue uninterrupted the valuable work he is doing and build further on the work which has already been laid.
The alternative is unthinkable. The closure of the gallery would be a tragic loss for the cultural life of Mitte and Berlin in general. It would also as a consequence impair and destroy the livelihood of the gallerist and his stable of artists.
I implore you to reconsider the position of Berggruen Holdings regarding this matter and come to an acceptable solution for both parties.
Yours sincerely,
Colin Ardley (Artist and Curator) Dresden, November 2021... Einklappen