Okwui Enwezor leaves role as director of Munich’s Haus der Kunst; Malcolm Morley, first artist to win the Turner Prize, dies aged 86

Okwui Enwezor leaves role as director of Munich’s Haus der Kunst 54-year-old Enwezor, who has led the Munich institution since 2011, has cited ill health as the reason for his departure. In a short statement, he said: “There is never an ideal time to say goodbye, but I am leaving at a time when Haus der Kunst has achieved a strong artistic position. It has been a great privilege to lead this exceptional institution and work with such a dedicated and talented team.”

Enwezor recently oversaw the fundraising for a major renovation of the gallery planned by the British architect David Chipperfield. He was also the curator of the 2015 Venice Biennale, which was themed ‘All the World’s Futures.’

Marion Kiechle, chairwoman of Haus der Kunst’s supervisory board, said: “Thanks to Okwui Enwezor’s outstanding exhibition program, Haus der Kunst’s international reputation has been considerably strengthened. As a result of his curatorial expertise, the institution has received worldwide recognition.”

Malcolm Morley, first artist to win the Turner Prize, dies aged 86 The London-born artist, who moved to New York in 1958, was best known for his photorealist and neo-expressionist art. His varied life included a stint at Wormwood Scrubs jail for burglary, before studying at the Royal College of Art.

In 1984, he beat off competition from Richard Deacon, Gilbert and George and Richard Long to win the very first Turner Prize for his Whitechapel retrospective the preceding year. At the time the decision received some criticism, with the Guardian’s then art critic Waldemar Januszczak citing the fact that Morley had been based in the US for more than 20 years.

Xavier Hufkens gallery in Brussels, one of the galleries to represent him, said in a statement: “He defied stylistic characterisation, moving through so-called abstract, hyperrealist, neo-romantic, and neo-expressionist painterly modes, while being attentive to his own biographical experiences.”

Clyde Hopkins, artist and co-founder of Art in Perpetuity Trust Studios, dies The painter who worked in studios in south east London for over 30 years, was one of the group of artists that helped to set up APT in Deptford in the mid 1990s. His work was featured in solo and group shows at a raft of high-profile institutions, including the Serpentine, Hayward, Whitechapel, Ikon and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

In a statement, APT said: “We are very sad to announce that Clyde died peacefully on Sunday 27th May 2018 with Marilyn at his side. He was one of our founder members, helping to set up A.P.T in 1995. We will miss his humour, friendship, banter and most of all his paintings.”

Artist Olu Oguibe clashes with city of Kassel over permanent location of work made for last year’s Documenta An argument has arisen after a crowdfunding campaign to fund Monument to Strangers and Refugees failed, with only $89,000 of $750,000 raised. As a result, Oguibe agreed to let the city have the  54ft concrete obelisk at a reduced price.

The work was specifically designed for Kassel’s central Königsplatz (King’s Square), but Kassel has suggested relocating it to Holländische Platz, or Dutch Square. In response, Oguibe appears to have given the city an ultimatum of keep the work in its current location or the deal is off.

Largest public art campaign in United States history announced for midterm elections For Freedoms, the artist-run political action committee founded by Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman in 2016, has launched the ’50 State Initiative’ which will bring together more than 200 partners and 175 artists. Timed to coincide with the US midterm elections, the billboards will feature slogans designed by artists rather than the names of politicians running for office. The installations will coincide with a number of art exhibitions and artist-led town hall meetings aimed at encouraging the public to participate in the political process through art and creative collaboration.

As Artforum reports, For Freedoms said in a statement: “Our goal is not to support a political party or push a partisan agenda, but to empower everyone across the United States to feel welcome in civic conversations.”

Artist Olafur Eliasson completes first building The Fjordenhus, which was commissioned by financial firm Kirk Kapital in 2011 as its headquarters, is a brick office building at a fjord in the Danish town of Vejle. Inside, Eliasson also designed the furniture, lighting and a number of site-specific works of art. The Icelandic-Danish artist,  is best known for his sculptures and large-scale installation art that employs elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature.

Images:
1. Okwui Enwezor. Photo: Andreas Gebert, 2011
2. Clyde Hopkins in his studio at APT, 1988. Photo: Marilyn Hallam

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